That Aaron Choose and Shohei Ohtani preserve successful MVP Awards — 2 straight for Choose and three in a row for Ohtani, and 7 of the ten handed out since 2021 — is fairly wonderful. It’s a reminder that we’re watching two of the best gamers in baseball historical past proper now. We’re all extremely lucky.
However it may be a little bit of a bummer that so many different nice gamers preserve getting shut out. These are gamers who’ve put up MVP-caliber seasons which have the misfortune of being simply shy of the extent of Choose and Ohtani. So many gamers most likely ought to have gained an MVP by now, however they’ll’t break by due to what Choose and Ohtani proceed to do.
Ultimately — one would assume? — somebody will finish their stranglehold. Who will that participant (or gamers) be? Listed below are 5 candidates from every league to topple Choose and/or Ohtani from their thrones in 2026. (Gamers are listed in alphabetical order.)
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics
You may assume that is too early and too quickly, however did you see what this man did in 2025? In solely 117 video games, Kurtz had 36 homers and put up slash numbers that rivaled Choose’s in each manner. On the age of twenty-two, Choose performed the entire season at Single-A and Excessive-A; Kurtz put up a 1.002 OPS within the huge leagues and, oh yeah, had a sport through which he racked up six hits and 4 homers. Why can’t this child get higher? And it already solely takes him getting a bit bit higher to get to the place Choose is correct now.
Why can’t he do it once more? We would not have the joys of discovery that Raleigh gave us this season — who knew a switch-hitter might crush 60 homers? Who knew a catcher might do it? — however it’s not like he tailed off because the season went alongside. Raleigh stays top-of-the-line hitters in baseball, whereas additionally taking part in probably the most demanding defensive place, and doing it effectively. Perhaps he’ll have a bit bit higher batted-ball luck and get his batting common up sufficient that 60 homers feels much more spectacular. Raleigh gave Choose as shut a race as he’s had for any of his MVP-winning seasons. And he may simply preserve getting higher.
José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians
One in all these years, proper? J-Ram completed third in MVP voting this 12 months, the eighth time he has completed within the prime 10 in MVP voting. The closest he ever got here was second place behind José Abreu in 2020, a 12 months when, looking back, Ramírez most likely ought to have gained. At 33, you may assume Ramírez is working out of time, however he’s nonetheless youthful than Choose. It would assist if the Guardians improved the lineup round him; whether or not or not you care about RBIs, 85 is a reasonably low quantity for an MVP candidate.
Julio Rodríguez, CF, Mariners
He has been round lengthy sufficient now that you simply overlook how younger he’s, however he’s solely two years older than Kurtz. Rodríguez nonetheless hasn’t fairly matched the numbers he put up throughout his rookie season, however 2025 was a step ahead from a disappointing ‘24. He went on one other of his second-half runs, additional establishing himself as one of many streakiest gamers in baseball. One in all these years, his streak will final all season.
Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals
Right here’s a man who completely would have gained an MVP Award if it weren’t for Choose. Witt’s 2024 season was a traditional MVP season that simply did not fairly measure as much as the Yankees slugger. Witt wasn’t fairly pretty much as good in 2025, however he was nonetheless a Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop who put up his fourth consecutive 20-20 season. He’s one other man who might use some extra lineup assist, however hitting for extra dwelling run energy wouldn’t damage, both. Witt led the Majors with 47 doubles this season, and as he will get older, a few of these will convert into homers. It’s solely a matter of time till Witt wins an MVP Award, and doubtless a couple of.
Corbin Carroll, RF, Diamondbacks
Carroll was a revelation in his Rookie of the Yr season two years in the past, however whereas he was nonetheless good as a sophomore, he did not fairly match these preliminary numbers in 2024. He rebounded in ’25, main the NL in triples once more with 17 whereas including much more energy, launching a career-high 31 homers. He nonetheless steals bases with impunity, and all he actually wants now’s just a bit extra plate self-discipline: His strikeouts went up final season, and his walks went down. However he’s nearly six months older than Rodríguez, having turned 25 in August. Carroll, too, is simply getting began.
Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds
You understand it’s coming. All it’s important to do is have a look at De La Cruz, his unbelievable bodily items and the expertise wafting off him, and see an MVP Award — perhaps a number of — in his future. He simply must get every little thing aligned. He nonetheless strikes out manner too usually, he doesn’t stroll sufficient, and even his energy and steals had been down a bit bit in 2025. He additionally led the NL in errors for the second season in a row, so there’s a lot to work on. However amongst gamers on this listing, solely Kurtz is youthful than De La Cruz, who gained’t flip 24 till January. He’s going to place it collectively sometime, and shortly. When he does? Look out.
It has been 11 years since a pitcher — Clayton Kershaw in 2014 — gained an MVP Award, and it appears much more tough to drag it off these days. If there’s one pitcher in baseball able to placing collectively a Bob-Gibson-in-1968 season, it must be Skenes, proper? Bear in mind: After 55 profession begins, Skenes’ ERA is underneath 2.00. That’s unbelievable, and he appears to get stronger because the season goes alongside. He may quickly have a season that merely can’t be denied.
Yep, he nonetheless hasn’t gained one! He’s eight seasons into a possible Corridor of Fame profession, with a lifetime WAR that has already surpassed Jose Canseco, Don Mattingly and Darryl Strawberry, and he has completed within the prime 10 in voting six occasions, however Soto has but to get excessive. It doesn’t make a distinction what league he’s in; Choose obtained him within the AL final season, and Ohtani obtained him within the NL this time. Are you able to think about if Soto in some way doesn’t win an MVP? How will we probably clarify that in 20 years? Right here’s guessing we gained’t must.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, Padres
All these troubles appear to be within the rearview mirror. Tatis nonetheless hasn’t fairly matched his pre-suspension numbers, however he’s getting nearer, and he’s now the unquestioned chief of a workforce that comes this near breaking by however by no means fairly will get there. That he has moved positions with no downside — he gained the NL Platinum Glove Award in 2025 — has helped him immeasurably: Tatis is now seen as a gamer, precisely the sort of man who helps you win. He has been on the cusp of a 30-30 season most of his profession, however he is by no means fairly gotten there. Perhaps he’ll skip it totally and simply go straight to 40-40.
