What happened: Yordan Alvarez was named the 2026 American League Most Valuable Player on Thursday. The Baseball Writers' Association of America selected Alvarez by unanimous vote. The victory marks the first time a full-time designated hitter has captured the AL honor.

Why it matters: The award caps a dominant season for Alvarez, who previously swept the MLBPA AL Most Outstanding and Comeback Player awards in October. Alvarez enters the winter with two years remaining on his contract after leading the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.

What to watch: MLB Network will announce the National League MVP winner later Thursday evening to conclude the 2026 BBWAA awards cycle.