2026 MVP race: Judge and Ohtani are already sitting on MLB’s throne
The first poll of the season from MLB.com experts has landed, and while the names at the top won’t surprise anyone, the race looks a lot fiercer than expected. Forty specialists voted to predict who will walk away with the MVP trophy next October. Between the established stars who are crushing everything in sight and the breakout names shaking up the MLB pecking order, the picture early on is a fascinating one.
American League: a Judge-Alvarez heavyweight fight
In the MLB American League, it’s a straight-up slugfest. Aaron Judge is top of the pile, but he shares the same number of first-place votes (19) with Astros powerhouse Yordan Alvarez. Judge leads MLB with 13 home runs and looks ready to pull away, but Alvarez has just come off a ridiculous April and picked up Player of the Month honours.
The surprise of the standings is the wildcard Ben Rice. The young Yankees hitter is already up to fourth in the poll thanks to a .343 average and a ridiculous 1.214 OPS. And then there’s Mike Trout, back in the mix and reminding everyone that when he’s fit, he’s still one of the best players on the planet.
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National League: Ohtani is on his own planet in MLB
In the MLB National League, there’s barely a contest. Shohei Ohtani is running away with the vote, collecting 28 first-place votes out of 40. His line is just absurd: a 0.60 ERA on the mound, backed up by a relentless presence at the plate. As long as he keeps pitching and hitting at this level, the top prize in MLB feels like his to lose.
Behind the alien, Elly De La Cruz is finally climbing into the spot his talent has been promising all along. With 10 home runs and that terrifying speed, he’s the main threat. Matt Olson rounds out the podium, carrying the Braves offence (25-10) on his back with 31 RBIs already, the most in the majors.
The advanced-stats favourites
The poll also shines a light on players who might not be the flashiest names, but are every bit as valuable across MLB. Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) and Nico Hoerner (Cubs) are both making noise. Their traditional numbers may not leap off the page, but their overall value (WAR) and elite defence make them serious contenders in the eyes of the experts. The season is still young, but the foundations of what could be a historic year for MLB are already there.
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