Will Jensen win the Rookie of the Year?
The Kansas City Royals have one of the top prospects in all of MLB in catcher Carter Jensen. According to MLB.com, Johnson is the No. 18 overall prospect in the sport. He is expected to be among the favorites for the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2026. So, who could be Jensen's biggest opponent for the award?
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage is arguably the favorite to take home 2026 AL Rookie of the Year honors.
Yesavage, 22, is the No. 12 overall prospect in MLB. He only made three regular season starts in 2025, but became extremely well known in the postseason after pitching to a 3.58 ERA across six games in October. In fact, he is one of the few pitchers to have more postseason appearances than regular season outings.
Yesavage is filthy on the mound. He is expected to be in a rotation for a Blue Jays ball club that expects to compete once again. All eyes will be on him, but Jensen is still a legitimate candidate to win the AL Rookie of the Year.
Will Carter Jensen Win the AL Rookie of the Year Award?
Jensen, who is also 22 years old, made his big league debut in 2025 as well. He appeared in a total of 20 games, hitting .300/.391/.550. It was a strong first impression to say the least.
Of course, the Royals already have a catcher by the name of Salvador Perez on the big league roster. As a result, Jensen will likely DH in 2026. He can also serve as a backup catcher, handling the position whenever Perez needs a day off.
Whether he is catching or serving as the DH, one thing is clear: The Royals need Jensen's bat in the lineup.
The left-handed hitter offers intriguing power from the left side of the plate. He's also more than capable of hitting for average. If Jensen performs up to his full potential, he will emerge as a serious Rookie of the Year candidate in 2026. He may even receive some bonus votes if he helps the Royals reach the postseason, since their outlook is not as promising as the Blue Jays.
There are other candidates as well, but Trey Yesavage and Carter Jensen may end up being the frontrunners for the award. The American League Rookie of the Year race projects to be exciting in 2026.