Pete Crow-Armstrong Claims Unanimous NL MVP Award Ahead of Shohei Ohtani

Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong unanimously won the National League Most Valuable Player award for the 2026 season, the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced Thursday evening. Four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani finished second, followed by Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang in third.

The outcome capped a shift in the award race over the course of the season. Ohtani entered the year as the overwhelming favorite and remained the favorite through the All-Star break. His injuries, combined with Crow-Armstrong's production, helped swing the contest toward the Cubs outfielder late in the year. By the end of the regular season, the result was no longer a surprise.

Crow-Armstrong played in all 162 games and posted a .280 batting average.372 on-base percentage and .570 slugging percentage, with a 156 OPS+. His totals included 45 home runs, 31 doubles, eight triples, 107 RBI and 119 runs. He also stole 41 bases, giving him more than 40 home runs and 40 steals in the same season.

His 9.8 WAR led the majors, as did his totals in runs, home runs and total bases. Within the National League, he finished first in slugging percentage, OPS and OPS+. His contribution also extended to center field, where he topped the major leagues in multiple advanced defensive metrics.

Crow-Armstrong became the first Cubs MVP winner since Kris Bryant in 2016. Other previous winners for the franchise include Sammy Sosa in 1998, Andre Dawson in 1987, Ryne Sandberg in 1984 and Ernie Banks in both 1958 and 1959. The club's earlier recipients were Hank Sauer in 1952, Phil Cavaretta in 1945, Gabby Hartnett in 1935, Hack Wilson in 1930, Rogers Hornsby in 1929 and Frank Schulte in 1911.

Ohtani finished with a .275 batting average.377 on-base percentage and .512 slugging percentage. He recorded 30 home runs, 26 doubles, four triples, 81 RBI, 89 runs and 11 steals, with 3.2 WAR as a hitter. As a pitcher, he went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 95 strikeouts across 85⅔ innings, adding another 3.2 WAR.

Turang, who has yet to make an All-Star Game, represented Team USA in the World Baseball Classic at the start of 2026. He subsequently hit .268/.366/.450 with a 124 OPS+, 37 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, 100 RBI and 102 runs. His season produced 7.3 WAR, alongside defensive ratings that placed him among baseball's best.

The MVP vote covers regular-season performance, with ballots submitted before the playoffs. Two writers from each of the 15 BBWAA chapters with National League teams rank 10 players. First place carries 14 points, second earns nine and third receives eight, with the values declining to one point for 10th.