Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson Get MVP Votes for First Time in MLB Careers

St. Louis Cardinals standouts Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson were rewarded for their career years in 2026 by garnering votes for the National League's Most Valuable Player award for the first time.

Walker, 24, got one sixth-place vote on the 10-player ballot and finished 16th in the voting for the NL MVP award, which was won unanimously by Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Walker set career highs in games played (158), runs scored (97), hits (164), doubles (33), home runs (29), RBI (102), strikeouts (174), walks (50), stolen bases (22), slugging (.466) and OPS (.793). Walker also hit .269 and posted a .327 on-base percentage – his highest totals since his rookie season in 2023. Additionally, he became the first Cardinals player since Tommy Pham in 2017 with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

In 2026, Walker became a first-time All-Star, he won the MLB Home Run Derby and he was voted second-time All-MLB.

Burleson, who became the first Cardinals player to lead MLB in RBI in 55 years, got one ninth-place vote and finished tied for 24th in the MVP balloting. Burleson was a nominee at first base for the All-MLB teams, but he lost out on the honor to Baltimore Orioles star Pete Alonso (first team) and Boston Red Sox and former Cardinal Willson Contreras (second team).

Burleson had 37 doubles, 26 homers, 116 RBI while slashing .279/.343/.473/.816 in 160 games. Burleson also led MLB in hits and doubles with runners in scoring position in 2026.