The World Baseball Classic has concluded, players are returning to their MLB teams for the last few days of Spring Training, and we are less than a week away from the start of the 2026 MLB regular season.
Since Opening Day is right around the corner, it’s time to take an early look at the NL MVP race, and more specifically, who’s in it before a single pitch has been thrown.
Last year it was once again Shohei Ohtani dominating not just the NL, but the MLB as a whole en route to his fourth MVP Award.
Will anyone be able to stop the Unicorn from winning his fourth MVP in a row and fifth overall? It’s too early to know, but it isn’t too early to give you an NL MVP ranking before Opening Day arrives.
TWSN Answers
• #5: Fernando Tatis Jr.
• #4: Paul Skenes
• #3: Juan Soto
• #2: Ronald Acuña Jr.
• #1: Shohei Ohtani
TWSN Quick Facts
• Sport: Baseball
• League: MLB
• Award: NL MVP
• MLB Opening Day: March 26
Preseason NL MVP Ladder
Here’s what the NL MVP race looks like before the regular season begins, based on performances in Spring Training and the World Baseball Classic.
#5: Fernando Tatis Jr.Â
2025 Stats: .268 AVG/ .814 OPS/ 25 HR/ 71 RBI/ 32 SB
Tatis was electric for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, leading off the most stacked team in baseball history and living up to the honor and hype.
He hit .400 with two home runs, eight hits, and 11 RBIs, helping lead his team to the semifinals where they ultimately came up short. Tatis will once again be a big-time player in the NL MVP race, and this could be the year where he fully comes back into the form he was in before all the setbacks came a few years ago.
#4: Paul Skenes
2025 Stats: 1.97 ERA/ 0.95 WHIP/ 216 K
To still have a sub-2.00 ERA after two seasons is ridiculous. Skenes was dominant in 2025, and he was incredible during his two appearances on the hill for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic as well, showing us he’s already in midseason form.
Pittsburgh needs to take the next step that many expect them to take as a team this season for Skenes to remain a real factor in the NL MVP race, and if they can do that, then he positions himself greatly to walk away with not only the Cy Young Award this season, but the NL MVP in an ultra-competitive field.
#3: Juan Soto
2025 Stats: .263 AVG/ .921 OPS/ 43 HR/ 105 RBI/ 38 SB
Based on what we know about Juan Soto, he’s going to be a big factor in the NL MVP race yet again this season.
He had a great first year with New York but it wasn’t always perfect. This season, however, it will likely be even better, and Soto may be closer to perfect than he ever has been, as he’s fueled by the lack of team success in 2025 as well as what he felt was a robbery exit in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic.
#2: Ronald Acuña Jr.
2025 Stats: .290 AVG/ .935 OPS/ 21 HR/ 42 RBI/ 9 SB
Ronald Acuña Jr. won the World Baseball Classic and won the tournament’s accompanying MVP Award with Venezuela, so not many players are having a better year than he is so far.
It can be easy to forget who Acuña is in a world filled with monsters such as Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, but when healthy, we must remember that Acuña Jr. is easily right there in that same class, and if he remains healthy this season, he will be reminding everyone of that fact.
#1: Shohei Ohtani
2025 Stats: 2.87 ERA/ 1.04 WHIP/ 62 K/ .282 AVG/ 1.014 OPS/ 55 HR/ 102 RBI/ 20 SB
As long as he’s playing, he’s probably going to be the guy favored to win it, and for good reason.
Coming off another legendary season in 2025 and a solid performance with Japan in the World Baseball Classic, there’s just no reason to believe Shohei won’t be the man to beat in 2026 for the NL MVP Award, so he starts on top ahead of Opening Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to questions you may have about the 2026 MLB season.
Who won the NL MVP Award last year?
Shohei Ohtani won the 2025 NL MVP Award.
Who is the favorite to win the NL MVP Award in 2026?
Shohei Ohtani is a heavy favorite to win the NL MVP Award this season, with -150 odds.
When is MLB Opening Day?
Opening Day is officially Thursday, March 26, though the Yankees and Giants will actually start the season the night before in a standalone game.
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Throughout my entire life I’ve considered myself a student of all games, from MMA, to football, to golf, and everything in between. My passion for sports has taken me on a journey from athlete to coach to writer, and as I continue to progress on my journey, my end goal is simple: To better myself and my colleagues each and every day while doing what we love.
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