Kevin McGonigle and Sal Stewart Win Rookie of the Year: Where the Tigers Infielder and the Reds Slugger Belong in 2027 Fantasy Drafts

The 2026 Rookie of the Year awards went to two hitters who should be early picks in 2027 fantasy drafts. Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle won the American League award on Monday with 28 of 30 first-place votes, finishing ahead of Guardians pitcher Parker Messick and Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle. Reds first baseman Sal Stewart won in the National League with 20 first-place votes and 170 points. Mets outfielder Carson Benge was second with 107 points, and Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt was third with 99.

McGonigle is Detroit's first Rookie of the Year since Michael Fulmer in 2016, and he had already won Baseball America's rookie award. Stewart had one of the best rookie seasons in Reds history.

The winners' seasons

Stewart played all 162 games, with 161 starts, and hit .263 with a .787 OPS, 32 homers and 112 RBIs. He made the All-Star team and led NL rookies in home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits (57) and total bases (285). He's the second Reds rookie with a 30-homer season, after Hall of Famer Frank Robinson hit 38 in 1956. His 164 hits were the most by a Reds rookie since Pete Rose had 170 in 1963.

McGonigle posted an .806 OPS with 18 homers, 72 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He spent most of his time at shortstop and also played third base, and manager A.J. Hinch moved him to third more often late in the season. His on-base skills stood out all year. In mid-September, he was hitting .284 with a .386 on-base percentage.

Fantasy outlook: Sal Stewart

Stewart's 2027 value comes down to playing time and power. A hitter who played every game, hit 32 homers and drove in 112 runs as a rookie has already shown the two things that matter most at first base: durability and run production.

The batting average is the one area to watch. A .263 average is fine but not a strength, and pitchers will have a full season of data on him in 2027. If his average dips, his value depends on power alone. If it holds or improves, he's an early-round first baseman.

Great American Ball Park helps. It's one of the friendliest parks for power hitters, and Stewart will play half his games there. That park factor makes his home run total more repeatable than a similar season in a pitcher's park.

Draft range: Stewart belongs in the early-middle rounds of 2027 drafts as a core corner bat. In leagues that reward RBIs and home runs, he could go even earlier. Be cautious about paying for a big jump in batting average.

Fantasy outlook: Kevin McGonigle

McGonigle is the more well-rounded fantasy player. He contributes in every category, with double-digit homers and steals and strong on-base numbers. In points leagues that reward walks, his on-base skills make him more valuable than his counting stats suggest.

Position eligibility is a big part of his value. If he qualifies at both shortstop and third base in 2027, he gives fantasy managers flexibility at two of the shallowest positions. Check your league's eligibility rules, since some platforms base eligibility on games played the prior season.

His power is likely to grow. Eighteen homers as a rookie, with good plate discipline, is often the starting point for more power as hitters learn which pitches to drive. If that happens in 2027, he becomes a true five-category contributor at a scarce position.

Draft range: McGonigle fits in the middle rounds, with room to rise if early projections are optimistic about his power.

The runners-up worth watching

Carson Benge (Mets, OF): Benge hit .282 with a .776 OPS, 20 homers and 65 RBIs in 156 games. That's a strong rookie season in a big lineup, and he's a solid mid-round outfielder for 2027 with a chance to outperform his draft position.

JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals, 2B): Wetherholt hit .242 with a .704 OPS, 17 homers and 51 RBIs in 139 games. The batting average was a problem, but the power was real. He's a later-round middle infielder with upside if his average improves in year two.

Parker Messick (Guardians, SP) and Payton Tolle (Red Sox, SP): Both pitchers finished in the top three in the AL. Rookie pitchers who succeed often go too early in the next draft, so be careful about paying full price for either one.

The offseason context

These rankings could shift. MLB's collective bargaining agreement expires soon, and a lockout is widely expected to start Dec. 2. Teams have been more active than usual this early in the offseason as they try to finish deals before then. A trade or signing that changes the Tigers' or Reds' lineups could affect both winners' RBI and run chances. For now, though, both young hitters look like long-term fixtures with secure roles.

What to do in your league

In dynasty and keeper leagues, both winners are long-term building blocks. Don't trade either one unless you're getting an established star. In redraft leagues, start building your 2027 rankings with Stewart as a core first baseman and McGonigle as a middle-round infielder with upside. Benge is the best value among the runners-up, and Wetherholt is a reasonable late-round pick.