Michael Harris II is my 2026 Black MLB MVP

Michael Harris II is my 2026 Black MLB MVP

With postseason baseball now underway, it is evident who earned my vote for Black MVP of Major League Baseball.

And the winner is … Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves center fielder.

In July, I named my top 10 Black players, and Harris was No. 7. Injuries and second-half slumps by other players helped Harris rise to the summit.

More importantly, he helped the Braves hold off a challenge by the Philadelphia Phillies to win the National League East by six games.

Along with playing stellar outfield defense, Harris closed the regular season hitting .294 with 26 home runs and 87 RBIs. He also played in 155 of 162 games, far more than most MLB players.

Following Harris in my MVP tally are nine outstanding players who could certainly blossom into future Hall of Famers.

2. Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds P — For much of the season, Burns was the National League’s best pitcher. His tendency to walk batters sometimes drove up his pitch count, but his numbers demonstrated his dominance on the mound. Burns finished the year with a 15-3 record, a 2.86 ERA and 185 strikeouts.

3. C.J. Abrams, Washington Nationals SS/2B — Abrams was asked to move from shortstop to second base late in the season. Undeterred, Abrams hit 33 home runs and collected 106 RBIs. He also stole 34 bases and was an All-Star Game starter.

4. Taj Bradley, Minnesota Twins SP — Bradley posted a 12-6 record with a very respectable 3.73 ERA for the Twins, who had one of the AL’s worst offenses. The right-hander made an impressive 31 starts, struck out 205 batters and walked just 76. Bradley, if he can avoid an arm injury, could be among baseball’s top pitchers for years to come.

5. James Wood, Washington Nationals RF — Wood’s .265 batting average was the highest of his career, and he added 30 home runs and 77 RBIs. His 106 runs scored were among the highest in the NL. Injuries slowed him after the All-Star break, and he played in just 135 games.

6. Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals RF — Am I giving Walker a bit more credit in the ranking than he deserves? I don’t think so. While his second half of the season paled in comparison to the first half, Walker closed the year with a .269 batting average, 29 home runs and 102 RBIs. He also scored 97 runs. His home runs, RBIs and runs scored were all career highs. He slumped in September, but he arrived as one of the game’s best Black players.

7. Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins 2B — Edwards helped the Miami Marlins remain in playoff contention until the season’s final week. He hit .280 with six home runs and 52 RBIs and stole 21 bases. He also is growing into one of the game’s best second basemen.

8. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers SS — There was talk that Betts was “washed” after a dismal start to the season. But he rebounded to hit .257 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs. He belted the 300th home run of his career on June 24 and added 14 more, bringing him to 314.

9. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees RF — When the 2027 season begins, Judge will be listed among baseball’s best players. But his 2026 season was disappointing. A freak rib injury sidelined him for about three months, and a calf injury kept him off the Yankees’ roster for the Wild Card Series. His regular season ended with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs in just 66 games.

10. Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins CF — Buxton was on his way to winning MVP votes in the American League for much of the season, then his annual rash of injuries limited him to 93 games. He hit 25 home runs and drove in 46 runs, but his campaign was completely derailed by a hip ailment.

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