Kevin McGonigle Named 2026 AL Rookie of the Year in Near-Unanimous Vote

Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle won the 2026 AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award, receiving 28 of 30 first-place votes. The 22-year-old hit .278/.376/.430 with 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a league-leading 7.1 bWAR in 156 games after skipping Triple-A. His 266 times on base set a Tigers rookie record. By keeping him on the Opening Day roster, Detroit secured a 2027 Prospect Promotion Incentive pick and bonus pool allocation.