Featured Image: Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. (Gene J. Puskar/ AP Photo)
The 2026 MLB season is upon us with Spring Training starting on Friday, Feb. 20 in Arizona and Florida. Therefore, it is time to make way too early predictions for each major award in MLB.
NL MVP
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani winning the NL MVP this year is almost as certain as asking if the sky will be blue tomorrow. The designated hitter and starting pitcher is almost without a doubt the best player in baseball right now, and some people will argue that he’s the greatest player to ever play the game period. That however is a conversation for another day. His excellence as a slugger and dominance on the mound makes him almost a shoe in for the award. Not to mention the favoritism the league shows their most popular player.
If you look at last seasons stats, he set a Dodger record 55 home runs with an impressive batting average of .282. He was walked 109 times, and intentionally walked 20 times. Ohtani was a large part of the Dodgers past two World Series titles.
AL MVP
Cal Raleigh
Last season, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge were locked in an intense MVP battle for the American League, with both having impressive seasons. Judge walked away with the award, but some fans thought Raleigh got snubbed. This year, Raleigh has a sure fire shot at the award.
He had a very impressive season last year, with 60 home runs, leading the league. After the Mariners tragic Game Seven loss against the Toronto Blue Jays last year in the AL Championship, the Mariners are sure to come back with a vengeance, with Raleigh leading the charge.
NL Cy Young
Paul Skenes
Paul Skenes is one of the best pitchers in baseball at the moment, and last years Cy Young winner. This is his third league in the Majors, and surely another excellent season is on deck with the Pirates. He had a stellar ERA (Earned Runs Allowed) last season with 1.97, the lowest amongst pitchers in MLB.
The batting average against him was a very low .199. His mediocre win loss rate of 10-10 can be blamed on the lackluster offense of the Pirates. Even if the Pirates underperform again this season, Skenes is still a sure fire candidate for the best pitcher in the National League.
AL Cy Young
Garrett Crochet
Tarik Skubal, who won the award last year with the Detroit Tigers, certainly could have been picked for this article. However, he might not be able to catch that same energy this season. Crochet however is on the rise with the Red Sox looking to contend in a heavily competitive AL East.
Last season he had an ERA of 2.59 and an incredible W-L of 18-5 . Crochet is a pitcher to look out for this season, as well as the Red Sox as a whole.
