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Sal Stewart's Rookie of the Year win should make White Sox fans blood boil about Murakami omission

Something doesn't add up
ByNoah Phalen
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Sep 6, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart fields the ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick for an out, in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Sep 6, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart fields the ball hit by Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick for an out, in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Award season is officially underway as MLB recognizes its most outstanding players from the 2026 season. Monday night was the announcement of the Rookie of the Year awards in each league. Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle was the heavy favorite to win the award in the American League, and he did, but the National League was a bit more up in the air. Mets outfielder Carson Benge, Reds infielder Sal Stewart, and Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt were the finalists, with an argument to be made for each of them. Ultimately, the award went to Stewart, a decision that will make White Sox fans’ blood boil. 

Comparing Benge in particular to Stewart could raise some eyebrows. If you look at traditional numbers, Stewart has the advantage. The 23-year-old hit .263 with 32 home runs and 112 RBIs, while Benge hit just 20 home runs and drove in 65 despite a .282 average. Their OPSs of .776 and .787 were comparable, and they finished within four hits of each other. Benge had the edge by a 22-15 count in stolen bases, and they had  near-equal 118 and 117 OPS+ totals. The big difference comes in fWAR, where Benge posted a 4.3 mark compared to just 2.0 for Stewart. Benge played an excellent right field, and his position is more valuable defensively than that of Stewart, who primarily played first base. 

Despite similar power numbers, Munetaka Murakami wasn't a ROY finalist

Despite the comparable numbers, the award went to Stewart, who excelled in the more traditional home run and RBI categories. If you look at the American League, however, the same standard did not apply. White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami slugged 35 home runs and led all rookies in that category despite missing 35 games with a hamstring strain. McGonigle, who won the award, hit just 17 home runs and drove in less runs than Murakami. Murakami also surpassed McGonigle in slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS+. While McGonigle was the much stronger contact hitter, and all-around more valuable player, Murakami had the edge in the traditional numbers, and he wasn’t even named a finalist, finishing fourth place in the voting. 

I’m not suggesting Murakami should’ve won the award. Kevin McGonigle deserved it and I likely would’ve voted for him as well. But Murakami’s omission from even being a finalist while Stewart won the award in the National League shows the inconsistency in the standard of the voters. Granted, different people voted for each award, so perhaps the National League group just happened to be more voters that prefer the traditional numbers, but it’s infuriating nonetheless. 

Had Murakami not gotten hurt, he likely would’ve surpassed 40 home runs and undoubtedly had one of the best rookie seasons in White Sox history. It’s a real shame that it wasn’t even rewarded with a finalist nod. There is little doubt that his legendary power has translated to MLB pitching, and the next step in Murakami’s development will be refining his contact skills and improving the strikeout rate. Hopefully, he can take steps forward and be rewarded with some rightfully deserved hardware later in his career. 

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