The remarkable run of the 2026 White Sox has come to an end, so it’s now time to reflect on the players that made this season possible. With questions abounding about their starting rotation and whether or not their young lineup would take a step forward this season, the White Sox managed to win 84 games, coming just one short of winning the AL Central and reaching the postseason as the AL’s third Wild Card. The lineup led the American League in runs scored and the pitching staff proved to be surprisingly serviceable en route to the team’s first playoff berth in five years. These players are a part of the reason why. Here are our winners for the 2026 White Sox team awards.
Team MVP: 3B Miguel Vargas
One of the true breakout stars in Major League Baseball this season, Miguel Vargas’ impact is evidenced by the Guardians' treatment of him during the ALDS. Vargas walked nine times during the five-game series, very rarely getting pitches to hit. The former top 100 prospect of the Dodgers finished with a .250/.363/.474 slash line and 33 home runs just two years after one of the worst seasons of any player in baseball. Vargas led the White Sox with 5.3 fWAR in 2026 and tied for seventh in the American League and the most among third basemen. Vargas grew into his power this season while demonstrating an excellent feel for the strike zone and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. There’s no reason to believe he can’t repeat this kind of performance moving forward. Vargas was the White Sox’ best overall player in 2026 and is an easy choice for the Team MVP.
Team Cy Young: RHP Sean Burke
By giving Sean Burke the Opening Day nod in 2025, the White Sox weren’t wrong, just early. Burke was inconsistent during his first full big league season, but 2026 was his true breakout. In a career-high 172.1 innings, Burke finished with a 3.34 ERA and 185 strikeouts. Opponents hit just .225 against him, down from his .251 mark in 2025. Burke’s strong season was driven by a remarkable 1.14 ERA in July, and he was able to overcome some late fatigue to become the most reliable arm down the stretch and into the Postseason. Even if the White Sox add established pitching for 2027, it’s hard to envision anyone other than Burke taking the mound for Opening Day, which is tentatively scheduled for March 25th in Detroit. Burke’s 2026 breakout is the White Sox’ biggest pitching development win of the season, and he’s a big part of the rotation moving forward.
Team Rookie of the Year: OF Tristan Peters
The team Rookie of the Year was by far the most difficult decision I had to make putting this together. The White Sox had several impact rookies make their mark on the roster and establish themselves as huge pieces of the core moving forward. Munetaka Murakami led the team in home runs. Sam Antonacci became an excellent table-setter. But perhaps nobody had a more surprising and strong rookie season than Tristan Peters. After barely making the Opening Day roster, Peters took advantage of some early injuries and put together a strong rookie campaign. In 491 plate appearances, Peters finished with 12 home runs and a .774 OPS. In addition, his 11 OAA in center field was among the best in baseball at the position. His impact on both sides of the ball led to a 3.5 fWAR season, the third highest mark on the White Sox, and an All-Star nod. Peters’ effort at a premium position earns him the edge for me over several other impact rookies.
Team Most Improved Player: 2B Chase Meidroth
When thinking about White Sox players who took a huge leap forward in 2026, most focus on Miguel Vargas. But despite Vargas’ breakout season, the player who took the biggest step forward for Chicago was his fellow infielder Chase Meidroth. Meidroth showed flashes during his rookie season in 2025, but took his game to another level in 2026, improving his batting average from .253 to .276, his on-base percentage from .329 to .350, and his slugging percentage from .320 to .415. Meidroth hit 16 home runs, more than tripling his total from his rookie season. His strikeout rate doubled, but it’s a sacrifice both he and the White Sox are willing to make if it means more impactful contact and power output. On defense, Meidroth went from 2 OAA in 2025 to 9 OAA this season, ranking in the 95th percentile and putting him squarely in the mix for the Gold Glove at the position. There’s little doubt that Meidroth is the second baseman of the future for the White Sox, and another step forward in 2027 could make him one of the best in baseball at the position.
CHASE MEIDROTH THREE-RUN HOMER
— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2026
White Sox have broken it open! pic.twitter.com/kKMHbmpdxL
Team Reliever of the Year: RHP Grant Taylor
As I speculated before the season, the White Sox revamped their bullpen and turned it into a true strength this year, and a large part of that was a full season from Grant Taylor. Taylor posted a 4.91 ERA in 2025 in his first 36.2 innings, though the metrics suggested he was due for some positive regression, and took the next step in 2026. Taylor set a goal of 100 innings in 2026 and he almost got there: firing 92.2 between the regular season and postseason. His 2.25 regular season ERA was the best among White Sox relievers, and he led the team with ten saves. Taylor was frequently used for multi-inning scenarios as the White Sox weigh whether or not to use him as a starter in 2027 and beyond. Health is the biggest question, but Taylor stayed healthy all year in 2026 and was nothing short of dominant at times. The team had several relievers that had strong seasons, but none more valuable to the team’s success than Taylor.
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