Nolan McLean of the Mets tops the first National League Rookie of the Year poll for 2026 while Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox leads the American League side.
MLB.com surveyed 39 experts who ranked their top five candidates in each league on a 5-4-3-2-1 points system. All statistics are current through Sunday of the sixth week of the season. McLean received 23 first-place votes in the NL after posting a 2.78 ERA with 57 strikeouts and a 0.90 WHIP. Murakami earned 20 first-place votes in the AL after leading all rookies with 15 home runs and a .920 OPS. Other top NL vote-getters include Sal Stewart of the Reds and JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals. In the AL, Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers and Chase DeLauter of the Guardians follow Murakami. The poll highlights a deep rookie class across both leagues with several players excelling in different statistical categories.