What happened: Yordan Alvarez was named the 2026 American League Most Valuable Player on Thursday. The unanimous selection makes him the fourth Cuban-born player to capture the award, joining José Abreu, Jose Canseco, and Zoilo Versalles.

Why it matters: The honor caps a dominant season for Alvarez, who was part of an MLB-record seven Cuban-born All-Stars in July. His win marks the first American League MVP trophy for a Cuban-born player since Abreu in 2020.

What to watch: The BBWAA awards cycle concludes as teams turn attention toward upcoming roster deadlines and winter meetings.