McGonigle and Stewart win Rookie of the Year with contrasting strengths
McGonigle’s discipline and on-base value led to the AL award; Stewart paired 32 homers and 112 RBI with a full 162-game season to win in the NL.
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Baseball · MLB · Shortstop
Kevin McGonigle
2026 Season performance
Across 156 games in 2026, he hit .278/.376/.430 with 18 home runs, 72 RBI, 97 runs and 12 steals. His 95 walks against 100 strikeouts underpin an impressive on-base foundation. The AL Rookie of the Year now has an exciting challenge: preserve that plate quality while developing more extra-base impact.
Updated 2026-11-10Career background
McGonigle came from Pennsylvania’s Monsignor Bonner High School and was selected 37th overall by Detroit in Competitive Balance Round A in 2023. The left-handed-hitting infielder gained experience in the minors, winning Florida State League MVP in 2024 and Arizona Fall League MVP in 2025 before reaching the majors.
His major-league debut came in March 2026, bringing his contact and strike-zone skills into a higher level of pitching competition. From a high-school selection, he produced in the lower minors, succeeded in the Fall League and then entered Detroit’s lineup. Two developmental-league MVP awards preceded his major-league Rookie of the Year recognition.
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