Mets Respond to Controversial NL Rookie of the Year Award Reveal
The New York Mets reacted to MLB announcing the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year winner on Monday night.
This year's National League Rookie of the Year race has generated a significant amount of intrigue and debate among fans. On Monday night, the Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that Sal Stewart, a first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, was named the NL Rookie of the Year winner. This decision pitted Stewart against two other contenders from the New York Mets: outfielder Carson Benge and second baseman JJ Wetherholt.
Despite the Reds declaring Stewart as the deserving winner, many fans and critics may disagree with the outcome. Eight other NL rookies posted a higher fielding wins above replacement (fWAR) than Stewart's 2.0. Wetherholt led the WAR leaderboard with 4.6 points, primarily due to his exceptional defense. However, his offensive performance declined later in the season and he had to deal with an injury, which prevented him from receiving first-place votes.
Benge, on the other hand, had a more balanced offensive and defensive profile. He batted .282 with 20 home runs and 22 stolen bases, securing the fourth spot on the ballot. Benge even received a Gold Glove finalist award with 6 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and 10 assists in right field. His OPS+ was slightly higher than Stewart's at 118 compared to Stewart's 117, despite playing in a less hitter-friendly ballpark.
Other Mets rookies also made their mark on the NL Rookie of the Year ballot. Nolan McLean, a starting pitcher for the Mets, finished fourth with a 3.16 ERA in 31 starts. A.J. Ewing earned one fifth-place vote with a fielding wins above replacement (fWAR) equivalent to Stewart's in 120 games.
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