Inside the 2026 MLB NL Rookie of the Year Race: A Stacked Field Ready to Break Out

The National League Rookie of the Year race is shaping up to be one of the deepest in recent memory. Within the first couple of weeks of the 2026 MLB season, a wave of rookies in the National League is making a significant impact for their team. This could potentially create one of the most entertaining Rookie of the Year races in recent memory. Instead of one or two names leading the way, there has been a deep and talented group of rookies making early cases for this year's award.

Three NL Central Infielders Who Are in the Mix

From the Cincinnati Reds, third baseman Sal Stewart has been one of the best bats in the league so far. The 22-year-old briefly debuted last season, but only for 18 games, so he still maintained his rookie status. So far in 2026, he currently leads all rookies in total hits with 18 on the season. The former first-round selection is also one of just seven qualified hitters with an OPS of over 1.000 on the season. He’s been making better hard contact than just about anybody, with a 93.2 mph average exit velo and a 19.6% barrel rate. Both of these put him above the 90th percentile amongst all MLB hitters. With his outstanding underlying metrics supporting his production, Stewart’s early success could be sustainable.

Additionally, the St. Louis Cardinals have to be pleased with what they have seen so far from top prospect and starting shortstop JJ Wetherholt. The 23-year-old has possibly been the best defensive infielder in the league so far for the Cardinals. His plus-five outs above average put him in the 100th percentile, and they rank as the best in the National League. At the dish, Wetherholt hasn’t been out of this world, but he still has some encouraging numbers. His eye at the plate has been extremely impressive for a young hitter; he’s chasing out of the zone only 21.3% of the time, which puts him in the 88th percentile. The former seventh overall selection is also making good contact, striking out just 17.8% of the time. If he can get it going in the power department while maintaining his excellent defense, the former top prospect should be heavily in the mix for the award.

While he might not be off to a hot start, Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin is still definitely worth a mention. Earlier this year, he became the first 19-year-old to play in the majors since Juan Soto did it in 2018. The Pirates also recently signed him to a massive, $140 million, nine-year extension. The former ninth overall pick is currently the top prospect in all of baseball, although he will likely lose his prospect status soon. Through his first 10 games, the Mississippi native is hitting just .152, but this shouldn’t be too concerning for Pirates fans. At the minor league level, he had an OPS of .950 while also stealing 68 bases in 127 games. The talent is clearly present for Griffin; he might just need some time to adjust to big-league pitching.

Rookie Pitchers Who Have Impressed So Far

The current betting favorite to win the award is Mets rookie phenom, Nolan McLean. The former top pitching prospect in the game has showcased his outstanding stuff so far for the Mets this season. The 24-year-old has been very impressive throughout his first three starts of 2026. He’s pitched a total of 16.2 innings and has put up a 2.70 ERA while striking out 20 batters. The Oklahoma State product has done a remarkable job limiting hard contact. His 83.8 mph average exit velo and 24.3% hard hit rate both put him above the 90th percentile. McLean also briefly debuted last season but didn’t pitch enough to lose his rookie status. Throughout his first 11 career starts, he’s looked like one of the best starting pitchers in the game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates also have a very good young starter on their hands. 23-year-old Bubba Chandler is looking like a great piece to complement reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes in their rotation. The raw stuff from the right-hander could be some of the best in the game. His fastball has averaged 99.0 mph this season, which is in the 98th percentile amongst major league starters. Through his first three starts, the former third-round pick has an ERA of 3.86 with 14 strikeouts in 14 innings. If Chandler can clean up his high walk rate, he could be in for a huge season.

Additionally, the Phillies have to like what they’ve seen so far from their former top pitching prospect, Andrew Painter. The 23-year-old has only made three appearances so far at the big-league level, but he’s looked the part of a quality major league pitcher. Through 14.1 innings, the right-hander has an ERA of 3.77, along with 16 strikeouts to just three walks. He also has even better underlying numbers with an expected ERA of just 2.22. With his outstanding stuff, Painter is a legitimate contender in the rookie of the year race.

Two NL East Outfielders That Are Off to Strong Starts

Another Philadelphia Philly that’s looked good so far, despite his young age, is speedy outfielder Justin Crawford. The 22-year-old is the new starting center fielder for the Phillies in his rookie season. He’s more known for his contact ability rather than his power, but that approach has looked good so far for him this season, as he’s batting .306 with a 120 OPS+. His defense has been below average so far, with a minus-one in outs above average. With his outstanding speed and decent arm, his fielding is destined to improve.

The Miami Marlins have also gotten some solid contributions from their newly acquired outfielder Owen Caissie. They acquired the former Cubs top prospect in exchange for prized starting pitcher Edward Cabrera this offseason. Caissie has been a staple in the middle of the Marlins' lineup so far this season. He currently has the most RBIs of any rookie with 12 so far. The 22-year-old is also hitting .267 with an .822 OPS on the season. If he can keep producing runs at this rate, the Canadian native should catch the attention of plenty of voters.

Though it is still very early in the 2026 season, the National League rookie class has been defined by its depth rather than one or two clear frontrunners. With several hitters and pitchers making strong impressions, the race is wide open. There is no shortage of talent across the league, and multiple players are already building strong cases for the award. With what we’ve seen so far, it's clear that this could become one of the most competitive Rookie of the Year races in recent memory.