Insider Names Which Guardians Rookie Is Likely To Win MLB Award

By now, most of the 2026 MLB regular season is in the books. With roughly a month and a half left to play, we all have a pretty good idea about the primary candidates to win the league’s individual awards. No Cleveland Guardians player will compete for the AL MVP Award in all likelihood, but the AL Rookie of the Year might be within reach.

In fact, you could say that up to three members of the Guardians will be in the conversation: second baseman Travis Bazzana, outfielder Chase DeLauter, and starting pitcher Parker Messick.

Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes discussed their chances and identified the one he thinks has the better chance to take home the award.

“It’s been on display all season, especially in the work of rookies Parker Messick, Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana. Depending on what poll you read or the odds you calculate, they are all in line for the American League Rookie of the Year award. Bazzana has the highest profile because he was the first player taken in the 2024 draft, but Messick just may have the best chance of winning it,” Hoynes wrote.

DeLauter started off the year on a roll, but cooled off some and then got hurt in June, losing valuable playing time. He caught fire again in the summer, and today, he has a solid 124 wRC+ with 12 home runs and 2.2 fWAR.

Bazzana, an All-Star, was the No. 1 pick of the 2024 MLB Draft and boasts a 107 wRC+ with nine homers, 17 stolen bases, and 1.8 fWAR. He is capable of much more, though.

The one with the best chance of winning is, without a doubt, Messick. The left-hander has been one of the best starters in baseball, and if it weren’t for Dylan Cease and Cam Schlittler, we would be talking about a legitimate AL Cy Young case.

The southpaw is sporting a cool 2.57 ERA in 136.2 innings, in which he struck out 136 batters. His 3.5 fWAR ranks him fourth among qualified American League starters, behind Cease, Schlittler, and Drew Rasmussen.

At this point, Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle is probably the favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award, but Messick is one of his primary competitors and has a solid chance to shock the world with a strong finish.