Yordan Alvarez Makes Astros History With Unanimous MVP Win

Yordan Alvarez is the unanimous 2026 American League MVP. What a year for the slugger. Despite the Astros’ ups and downs, Alvarez kept trucking along, playing at the top of his game and collecting award after award. But none was bigger than his very first MVP. Well deserved.

A look at his 2026 stats:

Yordan Alvarez (2026): .316 AVG, 179 H, 42 HR, 106 RBI, 105 R, .432 OBP, 1.033 OPS.

The 29-year-old could not have had a better season. That .316 batting average earned him his first batting title, and he is also a finalist for his potential second Silver Slugger Award.

On Wednesday, he won four awards: the American League Hank Aaron Award, the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award, AL Comeback Player of the Year, and a spot on the All-MLB First Team.

Then, on Thursday, the ultimate award: the MVP. Not only was he the American League MVP, but he won it unanimously, capturing all 30 first-place votes.

The historic accomplishments didn’t stop there.

Alvarez became the fourth Cuban-born player to win the MVP, along with Jose Abreu in 2020, Jose Canseco in 1988, and Zoilo Versalles in 1965.

He also became the Astros’ third MVP, along with current teammate Jose Altuve in 2017 and Jeff Bagwell in 1994. Alvarez also joined Bagwell as the only two Astros players to win the award unanimously. All three Astros MVPs are still playing or working in the organization.

Opposing pitchers certainly weren’t eager to face Alvarez. He received an Astros-record 33 intentional walks, showing how much opposing teams feared his bat.

The only thing that could have made his season even more remarkable would be if he had won the Triple Crown, and he came so close, but Pete Alonso kept it just out of reach. Alonso had Alvarez by one home run and seven RBI. That said, there is absolutely nothing to be disappointed about with the outcome of Alvarez’s season.

The Astros as a whole, on the other hand, need to step it up. Houston has one of the best hitters in baseball, fresh off a unanimous MVP season, yet finished 2026 with an 81-81 record.

To waste Alvarez in his prime would be a huge disappointment for both the organization and Alvarez himself. The Astros have some of the pieces, but they’re clearly missing a few that would take this team where it wants to go.

Houston has a living legend in its lineup. Now it’s time to build a team around him that can win.