Shushkewich: Five candidates for the 2026 Tip O'Neill Award
Junior National Team grad Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) is one of the favourites to win the 2026 Tip O’Neill Award.
August 31, 2026
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
The James Tip O’Neill Award is presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the top Canuck player each year.
Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) took home the honour for the 2025 season, while the likes of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.), Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.), Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.), Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.), Jason Bay (Trail, B.C.) and Eric Gagné (Mascouche, Que.) have also won the award multiple times in their careers.
The winner is announced in December each year, and looking at the current crop of Canadian big leaguers, there is a strong chance that this season’s winner will have their name added to the trophy for the first time.
Guerrero Jr. and Naylor are not having their strongest seasons, while 2022 winner Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) also struggled at the beginning of the year.
Here are some 2026 Tip O’Neill Award candidates to keep an eye on as the season winds down:
Liam Hicks – C
Tampa Bay Rays
Liam Hicks (Toronto, Ont.) impressed in his rookie campaign with the Miami Marlins last season and found himself named to Team Canada’s roster for the World Baseball Classic in March. Hicks has carried that momentum into the 2026 season and is now playing across the state.
Through 101 games with the Marlins, Hicks posted a .282/.363/.432 slash line with nine doubles, one triple, and 14 home runs, along with 62 RBIs and a .795 OPS. He split his time between catcher and first base while also mixing in the odd DH appearance. Behind the plate, he threw out 14% of would-be base stealers and committed just two errors.
The Marlins moved Hicks to Tampa Bay at the trade deadline in exchange for a trio of prospects, and the Toronto product has only gotten better since joining the Rays. Through 22 games, he has collected 22 hits in 67 at-bats (.328) and boasts a .947 OPS, along with four doubles, three home runs, and 13 RBIs.
Among all big-league catchers, Hicks ranks eighth in fWAR (2.2) and has emerged as an everyday big-league player.
Tristan Peters – OF
Chicago White Sox
A change of scenery can do wonders for a player, and Winkler, Manitoba’s Tristan Peters is living proof.
After the Rays cut him loose in the winter, trading him to the Chicago White Sox, Peters has taken advantage of the opportunity to show that he belongs at the big-league level.
Through 132 games and 370 at-bats, Peters owns a .278/.344/.465 slash line with 12 home runs and a .809 OPS. He has also added 27 doubles, seven stolen bases and 52 RBIs while continuing to be a defensive stalwart, ranking in the 97th percentile with +11 Outs Above Average.
Peters ranks tied for fourth among big-league outfielders with 3.8 fWAR, most of which comes from his defensive abilities. However, he has also developed into a strong bat in the White Sox lineup, making him look like a steal from an organization that gave him just a cup of coffee last year.
Otto Lopez – INF
Miami Marlins
Born in the Dominican Republic, Otto Lopez spent his youth in Montreal, Que., and has been a prominent member of the Canadian squad at the World Baseball Classic over the years.
A former Blue Jays prospect, Lopez has emerged as a consistent option up the middle for the Marlins and has quietly put together a stellar campaign that deserves more attention.
He is currently tied with Luis Arraez for the major league lead in hits (164) and owns a .305/.340/.442 slash line with 30 doubles and seven triples. Lopez has also added 10 home runs and 61 RBIs and is on pace for career highs in numerous offensive categories.
He sits just behind Bobby Witt Jr. in fWAR among big-league shortstops (4.6), and while his power keeps his OPS below the .800 mark, he is a plus baserunner (96th percentile) and fielder (96th percentile). He also ranks highly in expected batting average, with a .282 xBA that places him in the 91st percentile.
While he didn’t get a chance to lock down a spot with Toronto, the Marlins are reaping the rewards of what Lopez brings to the table.
Cade Smith – RHP
Cleveland Guardians
If you want to talk about dominant arms in the game, Cade Smith’s name comes up quite often.
The right-hander from Abbotsford, B.C., has been one of the top relievers in the game over the years and has been given the closing role in Cleveland after Emmanuel Clase landed on the sidelines due to a gambling probe last summer.
This season, Smith continues to be a top bullpen arm. Through 58 outings and 61 innings, he owns a 2.36 ERA and a 2.51 FIP with a 12.7 K/9. He has seen a slight uptick in his walk rate compared to previous years (3.1 BB/9), which has caused his WHIP to creep up slightly to 1.082. However, he sits second in the big leagues in saves (35) and 12th in fWAR (1.7).
Smith also leads the league in games finished (50) and owns a 176 ERA+.
Smith was a strong contender for the award last season and there’s a good chance he will be in the finalist conversation again this season.
Erik Sabrowski – LHP
Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians have done well with Canadian bullpen arms, and Erik Sabrowski is their most recent success story.
The Edmonton, Alta., product cracked the Opening Day roster for the club this season and, despite landing on the IL earlier in the year, the left-hander has been a dominant arm for the Guardians when healthy.
Across 39 1/3 innings and 51 outings, Sabrowski owns a 2.97 ERA, 2.83 FIP, and a 1.297 WHIP. He has struck out opposing batters at a 14.9 K/9 clip while holding them to a .179 average, 5.7 H/9, and a .615 OPS.
Sabrowski has been a bit wild with the free passes (5.9 BB/9), which is why his WHIP and opposing .308 OBP are a bit higher than one might expect. However, he has been able to limit the damage against him, allowing just 13 earned runs all season.
The time on the IL and elevated walk rate could impact his standing against the other candidates for the Tip O’Neill Award this season, but a strong finish to the year could tip the scales back toward the southpaw by the time October rolls around.