Ahead of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, there was a lot of talk about this year's rookie class being historic. In the first month of the season, that has proven to be the case with a deep array of rising stars around MLB.
Let's take a look at our rankings of this season's best MLB rookies as May approaches.
1. Kevin McGonigle, 3B, Detroit Tigers
Entering the game on April 28, Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigal leads all position players in Baseball Reference's Wins Above Replacement (2.0) and he is third in FanGraphs' WAR (1.4). He has been phenomenal at the plate, leading all rookies in batting average (.330) and wRC+ (over 100 plate appearances) this month. What also needs to be highlighted is the value he brings to the basepaths, as demonstrated by his 100th percentile baserunning run value (3). McGonigle is performing like an American League MVP candidate right now, so he's the obvious pick to win AL Rookie of the Year.
2. Sal Stewart, 1B, Cincinnati Reds
One reason Sal Stewart is the top choice for National League Rookie of the Year this season is because of what he has done for the Cincinnati Reds lineup. Entering MLB games on Tuesday, Cincinnati ranked 23rd in runs scored (118) with the lowest batting average (.213) in baseball. Stewart is the only everyday Reds player with a BA of .275-plus; The majority of the Reds' lineup is hitting .230 or worse. He contributed 26.9 percent of the team's RBI and 17.8 percent of their total bases. With a .987 OPS with 9 home runs and 30 hits through 103 at-bats, Stewart is a big reason why Cincinnati is in first place in the NL Central and well above .500.
3. Nolan McLean, SP, New York Mets
While everyone justifiably expected Freddy Peralta to establish himself as the ace of the New York Mets rotation this season, it is rookie Nolan McLean who is taking over that role. The 24-year-old righty has made six starts this season and has a season-high 3 in earned runs, a game in which he also recorded double-digit strikeouts. McLean has the third-highest strikeout rate (33.3 percent) among starters, with the sixth-best WHIP (0.85) and sixth-lowest batting average allowed (.161). He's everything New York hoped for and more, and it certainly looks like the NL Cy Young future is in his future.
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4. Munetaka Murakami, 1B, Chicago White Sox
We're in a flashback of Joey Gallo and Adam Dunn. In his respective peak years, Adam Dunn averaged more than 40 home runs per season, struck out 28 percent of the time and boasted a walk rate of nearly 17 percent. A decade later, Joey Gallo averaged 40 homers per season with a 36 percent strikeout rate and a walk rate around 14 percent (2017–18).
Now let's compare this to Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami in his first major test. He boasts the ninth-highest walk rate (17.5 percent) and leads MLB in home runs (12) through 29 games. Murakami is also hitting in 32.5 percent of his plate appearances. When he's making contact, it's amazing to watch. When he's not there, Murakami swings as if he's generating wind power.
5. Parker Messick, SP, Cleveland Guardians
Parker Messick is not only one of the five best MLB rookies this season, he is also underrated. The Cleveland Guardians aren't getting any attention at all on a national level, which is par for the course, but Messick is quickly establishing himself as a front-line starter.
He pitched 8 hitless innings against the Baltimore Orioles on April 16, one of his great pitching performances in April. The Cleveland southpaw recorded 9 strikeouts with only 3 hits and 1 earned run in his Monday start against the Tampa Bay Rays. He has allowed the 11th lowest batting average (.177) on the season, recorded the eighth lowest WHIP (0.88) and all this has come with only 7 earned runs allowed in 36.1 innings of work.
6. JJ Weatherholt, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Weatherholt had a stellar season in his MLB debut, posting a .300 batting average in his first five games. He then suffered an early slump, going 6 for 36 with a .167 batting average in his next 45 plate appearances. However, during that span, he walked (eight) almost as much as he struck out (nine) and his composure at the plate paid off.
From April 14–27, Weatherholt has put up a 1.036 OPS and five of his 12 hits have gone from 15 yards. He has collected 9 RBI in that span, added one stolen base and still has a reasonable 10-5 K-BB line. Oh, we should also mention that Weatherholt ranks in the 98th percentile for shots above average (four) this season. In a down year, he would be a great pick for NL Rookie of the Year.
just missed: Chase DeLauter, OF, Cleveland Guardians; Moises Ballesteros, DH, Chicago Cubs; Connor Griffin, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates
