Tigers’ infielder Kevin McGonigle wins AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year

Courtesy of the Detroit Tigers

November 9, 2026

Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers earned 28 of 30 first-place votes on his way to winning the 2026 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year.

McGonigle divided his time almost equally between shortstop (675 2/3 innings over 96 games) and third base (644 innings over 94 games). He also was a designated hitter in five games.The only other former winner so equally divided in positions played was the Yankees’ Tony Kubek in 1957 with 297 1/3 innings over 41 games at shortstop and 303 innings over 38 games at third base. That year Kubek also played 31 games (228 innings) in left field and 22 games (130 2/3 innings) in center field.

This election marks the sixth time a Tigers player has been honored. The others were Harvey Kuenn in 1953, Mark Fidrych in 1976, Lou Whitaker in 1978, Justin Verlander in 2006 and Michael Fullmer in 2016. 

Parker Messick is the sixth Cleveland player to finish runner-up in AL Rookie of the Year voting since the franchise last had a winner, catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. in 1990. Messick followed Tanner Bibee in 2023, Francisco Lindor in 2015, CC Sabathia in 2001, Manny Ramirez in 1994 and Kenny Lofton in 1992.

Payton Tolle is the second consecutive third-place finisher for the Red Sox. Roman Anthony was third last year.

McGonigle and Messick were the only players named on every ballot.

Ballots were submitted prior to postseason play. They are tabulated on a system that awards seven points for first place, four points for second place, three points for third place, two points for second and one point for fifth.

2026 AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year

1st2nd3rd4th5thPoints
Kevin McGonigle, Tigers282 204
Parker Messick, Guardians22521 122
Payton Tolle, Red Sox 126654
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox 272639
Carter Jensen, Royals 49131
Chase DeLauter, Guardians 124523
Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays 14617
Tristan Peters, White Sox 21412
Sam Antonacci, White Sox 1 2
Travis Bazzana, Guardians 1 2
Walbert Ureña, Angels 1 2
Dylan Beavers, Orioles 11
Henry Bolte, Athletics 11

Below is a breakdown of the 30 individual ballots, submitted by two writers representing each city in the American League. For more information on the voting, see our Voting FAQ.

NameAffiliationChapter1st2nd3rd4th5th
Roch KubatkoMASNsports.comBALMcGonigleMessickTolleDeLauterOkamoto
Andy KostkaThe Baltimore BannerBALMcGonigleMessickDeLauterTolleMurakami
Junko IchimuraThe Hochi ShimbunBOSMcGonigleMessickOkamotoMurakamiTolle
Rob BradfordWEEI.comBOSMcGonigleMessickTolleJensenOkamoto
Paul SullivanChicago TribuneCHIMcGonigleMessickMurakamiJensenOkamoto
Bruce LevineAudacyCHIMcGonigleMessickMurakamiAntonacciPeters
Tom WithersAP-HonoraryCLEMcGonigleMessickMurakamiOkamotoTolle
Jordan ShustermanYahoo SportsCLEMessickMcGonigleDeLauterTolleMurakami
Evan WoodberyMLiveDETMcGonigleMessickTolleJensenDeLauter
Chris McCoskyDetroit NewsDETMcGonigleMurakamiMessickTolleOkamoto
Lorenzo Vigil DelgadoOur EsquinaHOUMcGonigleMessickMurakamiTollePeters
Chandler RomeThe AthleticHOUMcGonigleMessickJensenTolleDeLauter
Blair KerkhoffKansas City StarKCMcGonigleMessickJensenDeLauterMurakami
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphsKCMcGonigleMessickTolleJensenDeLauter
Rowan KavnerFOX SportsLAMcGonigleMessickTolleDeLauterJensen
Mike DiGiovannaAt-LargeLAMcGonigleMessickJensenUreñaOkamoto
La Velle E. Neal IIIMinnesota Star TribuneMINMcGonigleMessickMurakamiTolleDeLauter
Patrick DonnellyAssociated PressMINMcGonigleMessickPetersBazzanaBolte, H
Mark FeinsandMLB.comNYMessickMcGonigleJensenMurakamiOkamoto
Gary PhillipsNew York Daily NewsNYMcGonigleMessickTolleJensenMurakami
Patrick DubuqueBaseball ProspectusSEAMcGonigleMessickTolleDeLauterMurakami
Andrew DestinThe Associated PressSEAMcGonigleDeLauterTolleMessickBeavers
Janie McCauleyAssociated PressSF/ATHMcGonigleMurakamiMessickOkamotoTolle
Josh DubowAssociated PressSF/ATHMcGonigleMessickTolleJensenPeters
Marc TopkinTampa Bay TimesTBMcGonigleMessickPetersJensenTolle
Adam BerryMLB.comTBMcGonigleMessickTolleJensenDeLauter
Kevin SherringtonDallas Morning NewsTEXMcGonigleMessickMurakamiPetersTolle
Levi WeaverThe AthleticTEXMcGonigleMessickTolleJensenPeters
Rob LongleyToronto SunTORMcGonigleMessickTolleOkamotoMurakami
Rosie Christine DiMannoToronto StarTORMcGonigleMessickMurakamiOkamotoTolle

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