Houston Astros officially announced on October 28 that Cuban slugger Yordan Alvarez had won two major honors in the 2026 Players Choice Awards, presented by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Alvarez was named the American League's Comeback Player of the Year and Outstanding Player, earning both awards in a vote conducted by his fellow MLB players.

Alvarez beat New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout to claim Comeback Player of the Year honors. He also topped a field that included Junior Caminero and Bobby Witt Jr. to take home the AL Outstanding Player award.

The Players Choice Awards are particularly meaningful because the winners are selected directly by the players themselves, recognizing the performances that stand out most to those competing on the field.

Yordan Alvarez Joins José Altuve and Yuli Gurriel in Astros History

At 29, Alvarez put together a remarkable 2026 regular season, finishing with a .316 batting average and 179 hits in 567 at-bats, according to Baseball-Reference. He also hit 42 home runs, drove in 106 runs and scored 105 times across 158 games for Houston.

Alvarez finished the season as the batting champion in the American League and across all of Major League Baseball. He became just the third player in Houston Astros history to win a batting title, joining:

• Yuli Gurriel (2021)
• José Altuve (2014, 2016 and 2017)

Alvarez also led the American League in total bases (341), walks (109), intentional walks (33) and OPS (1.033), underscoring his impact as one of the league's most productive hitters.

Yordan Alvarez Reaches a Feat Not Seen Since 1970

Alvarez also became the third player since 1970 to win the American League batting title while hitting at least 40 home runs. He joined New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who accomplished the feat in 2025, and Venezuelan star Miguel Cabrera, who did it in both 2012 and 2013.

His individual honors extended beyond the end-of-season awards. Alvarez earned three American League Player of the Week selections, two Player of the Month awards and his fourth career All-Star selection.

After an injury-plagued 2025 campaign, Alvarez's resurgence was one of the most notable storylines of the season. With his health restored, the Cuban slugger once again demonstrated the elite combination of power and hitting ability that makes him one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the game.

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