Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami (26, Chicago White Sox) has emerged as the top American League candidate in MLB.com's 2026 Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year mock vote.
According to MLB.com on Friday (Korea time), Murakami received 20 of 39 first-place votes in the first Rookie of the Year mock vote for the 2026 season, making him the leading AL candidate.
The poll involved 39 experts who assigned weighted points to their top-five selections. MLB.com said, "Murakami has lived up to expectations precisely from the early stages of his debut season. Through the 11th, he ranks first among rookies in multiple offensive categories and is showing excellent plate discipline."
Murakami, who signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox last December, has been swinging a hot bat from the start of the season, proving himself a strong Rookie of the Year candidate.
As of the 13th, Murakami is batting .228 (33-for-145) with 28 runs, 15 home runs, 29 RBIs, a .362 on-base percentage and a .906 OPS this season. His home run total ranks second behind Aaron Judge (16, New York Yankees), while his OPS ranks sixth.
Following Murakami in the AL rankings were Kevin McGonigle (14 votes, Detroit Tigers), Chase DeLauter (3 votes, Cleveland Guardians), Kazuma Okamoto (1 vote, Toronto Blue Jays) and Parker Messick (1 vote, Cleveland).
In the National League, right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean (New York Mets) received 23 first-place votes, emerging as a strong Rookie of the Year candidate.
McLean has posted a dazzling performance this season with a 1-2 record, a 2.78 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched). He was followed in the rankings by Sal Stewart (6 votes, Cincinnati Reds), JJ Wetherholt (5 votes, St. Louis Cardinals), Konnor Griffin (2 votes, Pittsburgh Pirates) and Moises Ballesteros (2 votes, Chicago Cubs).
