Seven players completed every game of the 2026 MLB season, a rarity in today’s era of load management and cautious injury protocols. Leading the group was Matt Olson, whose consecutive games streak reached 944 by the season’s end, pushing him past Stan Musial’s 895 and setting a new Braves franchise record.
Olson’s streak began on May 2, 2021, with the Oakland Athletics and continued uninterrupted through five full seasons, including all 162 games for Atlanta in 2026. He passed Dale Murphy’s record of 741 straight games for the Braves on July 10. “I just expect to play if I’m healthy and ready to go, and it’s just kind of stacked up games,” Olson told MLB.com after setting the franchise mark.
Joining Olson on the list was his teammate Ozzie Albies, who also played every game in 2026. Albies’s durability was notable given the injuries that sidelined him in recent years, including a broken left foot in 2022 and a fractured left wrist in 2024. He managed to stay healthy throughout the season, contributing to Atlanta’s 94-68 record and NL East title. The Braves’ improvement of 18 wins over 2025 was partly credited to the consistency of Olson and Albies, who helped anchor the infield.
Bryce Harper finally managed to play all 162 games for the first time in his 15-year career. The two-time MVP’s previous high was 159 games in 2018 with Washington. Before 2026, his top Philadelphia season was 157 games in 2019. “Obviously, it’s in my head that I want to do it,” Harper said in July, emphasizing health and winning as priorities. His season ended on a high note with a home run in the Phillies’ 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay on September 27, clinching the final NL wild-card spot with an 88-74 record.
Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero made history by becoming just the fourth player since divisional play started in 1969 to start all 162 games at third base. The position’s physical demands make this rare, with Caminero joining Sal Bando (1969), Cal Ripken Jr. (1997), and Vinny Castilla (1998) in this exclusive group. The 23-year-old hit 40 home runs, including a September walk-off that secured a playoff berth, and topped 100 RBIs for the second consecutive season as the Rays won 98 games.
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong also played every game and emerged as a leading candidate for the NL MVP award. Crow-Armstrong tied Kyle Schwarber for the major league lead with 45 homers and led the National League with a .942 OPS. He also posted the highest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in the majors at 10.6. Earlier in the season, he became only the second left-handed hitter in Cubs history to hit 40 home runs, a club record previously held by Hall of Famer Billy Williams.
Rookie Sal Stewart of Cincinnati appeared in all 162 games, the first rookie to do so since Delmon Young in 2007. Stewart started 161 games and made one pinch-hit appearance, covering first base, second base, third base, and serving as designated hitter. He finished with 32 home runs and set a Reds rookie record with 111 RBIs. Stewart earned an All-Star selection and told Sports Illustrated, “I’m blessed. I had a great year, but I’m not satisfied.”
Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds rounded out the group, becoming the first Pirates player to appear in every game since Jason Bay in 2005. Reynolds had come close in previous seasons, including 159 games in 2021 and 156 in 2024. In 2026, he combined durability with steady production, leading the majors with 40 doubles. Pirates manager Don Kelly praised Reynolds’s consistency.
Baltimore’s Pete Alonso narrowly missed joining the 162-game club. He played 161 games, but the Orioles’ September 27 finale against the Yankees was canceled due to weather after a lengthy delay. Alonso still led the American League with 43 home runs and 113 RBIs.
Olson’s 944-game streak remains well below the all-time record of 2,632 consecutive games held by Cal Ripken Jr., but it stands out in an era when resting players is the norm. The seven players who completed every game this season reflect a blend of durability, trust from managers, and a measure of luck.
According to Yahoo Sports.
