Yordan Álvarez, Randy Arozarena, Yandy Díaz, and Miguel Vargas have been named as finalists for the 2026 Hank Aaron Award, a prestigious honor granted by Major League Baseball to the top offensive hitter of the regular season in both leagues. Remarkably, these four Cuban-born players have captured four of the ten finalist spots in the American League, marking an unprecedented presence in this accolade for Cuban baseball.
Álvarez, representing the Houston Astros, concluded the season as the American League's most formidable hitter. He led the league with an impressive .316 batting average and an OPS of 1.033, while smashing 42 home runs and driving in 106 runs across 158 games.
On the other hand, Vargas delivered perhaps the most eye-catching individual performance among the four, playing for the Chicago White Sox. The third baseman posted a .250/.363/.474 slash line, hit 33 home runs, drove in 93 runs, scored 106 runs, stole 22 bases, and drew 101 walks. This achievement made him the fourth third baseman in MLB history to record 30 doubles, 30 home runs, 20 steals, and 100 walks in a single season.
Vargas's historic season also made him the first player in White Sox history to combine 30 doubles, 30 home runs, 20 steals, and 100 runs scored in one campaign.
Playing for the Seattle Mariners, Arozarena contributed a .281 average, 26 home runs, 79 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, and an OPS of .865 over 154 games, maintaining his reputation for power and speed that has defined his major league career.
Completing the Cuban quartet, Díaz from the Tampa Bay Rays delivered a solid .293 average, 22 home runs, 85 RBIs, and an OPS of .805 over 614 at-bats, providing consistent offensive firepower throughout the season.
Among the other American League finalists is Shohei Ohtani, who is vying for his fourth consecutive Hank Aaron Award after winning it from 2023 to 2025. The panel of voters includes legendary figures such as Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr., and Pedro Martínez, among other former recipients of the award.
Fans also have the opportunity to weigh in on the selection through MLB's online voting, which is open from this Monday until October 12 at 11:59 a.m. ET.
To date, José Abreu is the only Cuban-born player to have won the Hank Aaron Award, securing it in 2020 with the White Sox in the American League. Should any of the four Cuban finalists prevail this year, they would become only the second Cuban to etch their name into the history of this award, which celebrates its 27th edition in 2026.
The winners are slated to be revealed on November 11 at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas during the MLB Awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live on MLB Network.
Cuban Finalists for the 2026 Hank Aaron Award
Who are the Cuban finalists for the 2026 Hank Aaron Award?
The Cuban finalists are Yordan Álvarez, Randy Arozarena, Yandy Díaz, and Miguel Vargas.
What notable achievement did Miguel Vargas accomplish this season?
Miguel Vargas became the fourth third baseman in MLB history to achieve 30 doubles, 30 home runs, 20 steals, and 100 walks in a single season.
When will the winners of the Hank Aaron Award be announced?
The winners will be announced on November 11 during the MLB Awards ceremony in Las Vegas.