Yordan Alvarez ended Shohei Ohtani’s five-year run as the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter, becoming the first Astros player to win the honor. His powerful 2026 season at the plate also has him in contention for the AL MVP and Silver Slugger.

By the Numbers
  • At DH, Alvarez hit .305 with a .422 on-base percentage and .575 slugging percentage in 134 games.
  • He totaled 34 home runs and 83 RBIs as a DH.
  • Overall, he led the AL with a .316 average, .432 on-base percentage, .601 slugging percentage and 1.033 OPS.
  • Ohtani had won the award five straight times; David Ortiz also won it five consecutive years, from 2003 to 2007.
Yes, But

Alvarez’s award-winning DH work was part of a broader season: he also started 24 games in left field. His major individual honors are not settled, with the AL MVP and Silver Slugger announcements still ahead.

What's Next

The AL Silver Slugger at DH will be announced Tuesday, followed by the AL MVP on Thursday. Alvarez is a finalist for both.

Bottom Line

Alvarez has ended Ohtani’s dominance of the DH award—and put together a season that could bring him more recognition.