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Nominations for the 2026 SnakePit Awards Single-game Performance of the Year have officially opened, offering fans a chance to weigh in on the top individual baseball displays of the season. Unlike last year’s event, which was largely dominated early on by Eugenio Suarez hitting four home runs in a single game on April 26, this year’s competition appears much more wide-open.
Nomination Categories and Voting Process
The ballot typically features five nominees, usually consisting of two position players, two starting pitchers, and one relief pitcher, though this year’s strong relief outings could shift that balance. Fans can participate by visiting the comments section to recommend existing nominations or submit new ones by providing a brief performance summary. Duplicate entries will be removed, and the author will tally recommendations on Wednesday to shape the final list of finalists.
Position Player and Starting Pitching Candidates
Among the position player nominees are Jose Fernandez for his debut going 3-for-4 with two home runs on March 31, Ildemaro Vargas for falling just a single short of the cycle on April 26, and Corbin Carroll for his 4-for-4 game featuring two triples and two RBIs on May 24. Later season candidates include Nolan Arenado on August 15 and Corbin Carroll again for his September 14 performance.
Starting pitching candidates feature Michael Soroka for a stellar Arizona debut on March 30—tossing five scoreless innings with ten strikeouts and an immaculate inning—along with his June 11 outing. Other starting pitcher nominees include Merrill Kelly for a complete game on May 15, Eduardo Rodriguez on July 29, Mitch Bratt on August 5, and Brandon Pfaadt on August 14.
Relief Pitching Standouts
Relief pitcher contenders feature Brandon Pfaadt logging 6.1 innings on April 19, Juan Morillo striking out five over two scoreless frames on May 31, and Gerardo Carrillo tossing two scoreless extra-inning frames on July 28. The bullpen shortlist is rounded out by Zack Littell’s 4.2 scoreless frames on August 10 and Justin Martinez’s one-inning immaculate performance on September 11.
