Chicago, IL – The 2026 Major League Baseball season delivered two standout performances that will be remembered for years to come. Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow‑Armstrong finished the year tied for the major‑league home‑run lead with 45, while also becoming the first player in Cubs history to record a 40‑40 season, stealing 41 bases.
Crow‑Armstrong’s power‑speed surge
After a quiet start, Crow‑Armstrong erupted in the final two months, hitting 21 homers in that span. His power surge helped Chicago secure its second postseason berth in six years. The 45‑home‑run total matched Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber, who also finished with 45 and led the National League in strikeouts (220). Crow‑Armstrong’s 41 stolen bases placed him tied for fourth in the majors, cementing his place among the league’s most dynamic two‑way players.
American League power: Pete Alonso
On the American League side, Pete Alonso made an immediate impact after joining the Baltimore Orioles. He led the AL with 43 homers, edging out Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero. Alonso also topped the league in RBIs with 113, though the Orioles’ final game was canceled due to weather, leaving the overall RBI race unresolved. Alec Burleson of the St. Louis Cardinals finished with a league‑best 116 RBIs.
Alvarez’s triple‑crown chase
Houston’s Yordan Alvarez posted a .316 batting average, the highest in the majors, and came within one homer and seven RBIs of the AL triple crown. The last player to achieve the triple crown was Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
Batting titles and stolen bases
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno narrowly captured the National League batting title, edging Philadelphia’s Luis Arraez by a single point (.311 to .310). Arraez missed the final weekend with a sprained left ankle. Washington Nationals infielder Nasim Nunez led the majors with 49 stolen bases.
Pitching excellence
Milwaukee’s rookie Jacob Misiorowski emerged as a Cy Young contender, posting a 1.80 ERA and a league‑best 0.80 WHIP. He also finished the season atop the strikeout leaderboard with 252, after entering the final day just one behind Cleveland’s Gavin Williams. New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler was second in ERA at 1.95.
Boston’s Sonny Gray and Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez shared the major‑league lead in wins with 18 each. At the opposite end, Baltimore’s Shane Baz, Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee and Cincinnati’s Brady Singer tied for the most losses (15).
Closer showdown
Relief pitchers Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays and Cade Smith of the Cleveland Guardians each recorded 41 saves, sharing the major‑league lead. Baker entered the season with only seven career saves, while Smith arrived with 17. San Diego’s Mason Miller tied with St. Louis’s Riley O’Brien for the National League lead with 38 saves.
Team milestones
The Milwaukee Brewers set a franchise record with 103 wins, surpassing their previous high of 97 set last season. Conversely, the Los Angeles Angels finished with 100 losses, the first time in franchise history they have reached the century‑loss mark, ending a streak of never losing 100 games in a season.
Overall, the 2026 season highlighted a blend of historic individual achievements and team milestones, underscoring the excitement and competitive balance that defines modern baseball.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
