MLB MVP Tracker: A Yankee Not Named Aaron Judge Is Surging

By Tyler ErzbergerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Shohei Ohtani. Aaron Judge. Shohei Ohtani. Aaron Judge. And so on, forever.When it comes to the National League and American League MVP awards, two goliaths are standing in the way of anyone who wants a piece of history.And in 2026, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees both looking like they will once again be contending for a World Series, the two multi-time MVP winners will also be at the forefront of the award race.As we finish up our first month of the MLB season and look towards May, here are the current leaders for the most prestigious individual trophies in the sport.More news: MLB Power Rankings: The 5 Best Teams in Baseball Right Now...More news: Dodgers Are Selling a $75 Shohei Ohtani Soda Cup and It Is Going ViralNational League1. Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)It's neither exciting nor surprising, but Ohtani is the NL MVP and will almost assuredly be for a third-straight season if he stays healthy.Although Ohtani isn't having his best season at the plate, he's doing things he's never done before on the mound. There's a strong likelihood that Ohtani might hit over 40 home runs and have one of the lowest ERAs in the NL. That's just unfair for everyone else.2. Matt Olson (Atlanta Braves)The Braves' first baseman and heir to Freddie Freeman finished fourth in MVP voting back in 2023, and he is on a trajectory to have an even stronger season in 2026.Following a 2025 that almost every Braves player would like to forget about, Olson is leading the charge for Atlanta to return to the playoffs.3. Nico Hoerner (Chicago Cubs)Hoerner does everything for the Cubs. When it comes to defense, timely hitting, and doing the little things that help them achieve a 10-game winning streak, Hoerner is in the middle of it all.One of the most underrated players in baseball, Hoerner might not stay this high in the coming months, but he deserves praise for a fantastic first month....American League1. Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros)Alvarez is a scary man. He has some of the best power in all of baseball and also has the average of an elite contact guy.It's been a bad start for Houston, and although they might not have any pitching, at least Alvarez has been there to smash the ball into oblivion.2. Aaron Judge (New York Yankees)For a regular player, Judge's start to 2026 would be heralded. But because it's the back-to-back AL MVP, it's been seen as a soft beginning for one of the best pure hitters in the game's history.Judge will most likely pull ahead of even Alvarez in the coming weeks and months, yet for right now, he isn't the most impressive Yankees position player.3. Ben Rice (New York Yankees)Rice has been cooking to start 2026 and is only trailing Judge by a single home run with nine for the team lead, while also having a far better average.Like Hoerner, it'd be a surprise if he's still in the top three come the dog days of summer, but for now, Rice is one of the best players in baseball.Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI GuidelinesRelated PodcastsTop StoriesPoliticsKing Charles and Queen Camilla Meet the Trumps at White House9 min readPoliticsThe Plots Against the Presidents4 min readWorldIran Heads to Russia for Help on US War—Why?6 min readPoliticsFact Check: Did Cole Allen Appear With Usha Vance in 2017 Video?3 min…

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