Creating a strong argument for a utility man to be the team MVP through the 69 games of the season is a difficult task, but Mauricio Dubón has as good a case as any. The Atlanta Braves have enjoyed an excellent 2026 season thus far, and stars like Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, and Chris Sale have certainly pulled their weight.
However, Dubón is quietly just behind each of Atlanta's stars in fWAR thanks to his elite defense at multiple positions and his insanely clutch hitting. Dubón already has more RBI (37) than he did all of last season (33), and it's in part because manager Walt Weiss is giving him more of those opportunities.
Jesús Cano of The Athletic recently detailed some great projections for Dubón, and interestingly, Dubón is projected to get right around 600 plate appearances this season, which would eclipse his previous single-season high of 492 set back in 2023. These projections are a big reason why the Braves are winning games despite their injuries, and Dubón's former team is seven games under .500 entering mid-June.
Mauricio Dubón slugs a 3-run homer 💥 pic.twitter.com/UXWZjFFggk
— MLB (@MLB) June 4, 2026
Mauricio Dubón is on his way to a career year, and the Astros have to be kicking themselves
Through 65 games this season, Dubón has a 1.6 fWAR. His high for a single season is 2.2 fWAR, a figure he reached last year in Houston. The current 2026 mark would rank him second on the Astros this year, trailing only Yordan Alvarez. Houston has been a perennial playoff team for years now, but the year they lost Dubón seems to be one of the most challenging the team has faced in quite some time.
Meanwhile, the Braves have been the beneficiary, moving Dubón all around the diamond wherever he is needed. Ha-Seong Kim struggling to get out of the gate? Don't worry, Dubón can play shortstop until HSK figures it out. Michael Harris II needs a few days to nurse a sore back? No problem, Dubón can provide gold glove caliber defense at another premium position.
Dubón is truly a Swiss army knife, and one that is getting utilized more than ever by Atlanta's coaching staff. It's unclear where the Braves are headed in 2026, as pitching troubles and injury concerns have surfaced in recent weeks. However, we know one thing for sure: Atlanta would not be in as good a spot as they find themselves in if not for the contributions of Dubón.
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