What happened: Bobby Witt Jr. placed third in American League Most Valuable Player voting following the conclusion of the 2026 balloting. He paced the AL with 7.0 fWAR and recorded his second career season with at least 40 stolen bases. The result marks his third consecutive top-four finish in AL MVP voting.
Why it matters: The high finish solidifies Witt among baseball's premier performers after he previously earned his third consecutive All-MLB first-team selection. His sustained production cements his standing as a perennial MVP candidate heading into the upcoming 2027 season.
By the numbers: Witt led all American League players with 7.0 fWAR in 2026 while stealing 45 bases to secure his third straight top-four MVP finish (second in 2024, fourth in 2025, third in 2026).
What to watch: Witt heads into the upcoming 2027 campaign looking to maintain his run of MVP-caliber production.