Rookie award races are narrowing as the remaining schedule shrinks, with favorites emerging in both leagues. Each month, we update MLB Rookie of the Year odds, with analysis of the key candidates in the National and American Leagues.
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National League Rookie of the Year Award Odds
Two Atlanta Braves players have separated themselves at the top of the oddsboard in the NL.
| PLAYER | TEAM | Use code TODAY at BetMGM | Use code SHARP250 at BetRivers | Use code TODAY15 at Caesars | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Strider | ATL | -160 | -155 | -170 | -145 |
| Michael Harris II | ATL | +190 | +200 | +230 | +190 |
| Oneil Cruz | PIT | +1500 | +1600 | +1000 | +1500 |
| Seiya Suzuki | CHC | +2000 | +2000 | +1800 | +2100 |
| Christopher Morel | CHC | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 | +2100 |
| Brendan Donovan | STL | +5000 | +5000 | +6000 | +6000 |
| Nolan Gorman | STL | +6600 | +6500 | +3500 | +6000 |
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NL Rookie of the Year Candidates
Spencer Strider, P (Braves)
Atlanta pitcher Spencer Strider has a lot of things going for him. In a year when pitchers are dominating batters and power numbers are down, he’s put up good stats, and he also plays for a good team. He’s transitioned into Brian Snitker’s rotation, and he’s gradually showing he has the arm strength to go into the sixth inning. The righty strikes out 13.2 batters per nine innings.
Oneil Cruz, SS (Pirates)
The 23-year old is going to be a star, that’s obvious from his athletic ability. He has what might be the strongest infield arm we’ve seen in MLB since maybe the 1970s (Google Brooks Robinson).
But the Pittsburgh infielder is hitting about .215 with little plate discipline. Cruz needs more at-bats, which he will get plenty of in 2023.
Michael Harris II, CF (Braves)
It’s been a while since we’ve seen so many good young center fielders enter MLB at once. Harris has wrestled the job away from Adam Duvall, who couldn’t hit the lake if he fell out of a row boat. Harris is hitting .288 with decent extra-base power, and he’s helping the pitching staff by tracking down nearly anything that stays in the air in the middle of the outfield. The Braves are pushing toward another playoff spot and defense of their title, and with Harris providing pop from the left side of the plate, the lineup got longer and more dangerous.
Nolan Gorman, 2B (Cardinals)
The 2018 MLB Draft first-rounder is maturing before the Cardinals’ eyes at the big league level. With a compact left-handed swing reminiscent of Howard Johnson or Daniel Murphy, Gorman has 12 homers in only 229 plate appearances. He’s one-dimensional on defense and would be more valuable if he could evolve into a Chris Taylor-type utility man jack-of-all-trades, but that can be a project for another year.
Thanks to Gorman and fellow rookie Brendan Donovan (a Swiss Army Knife on the field), the Cardinals are in wild-card position and retooling their roster for what’s to come in the post-Yadier Molina era.
Seiya Suzuki, RF (Cubs)
After a good April, and showing off his obvious maturity, this former Japanese professional has cooled.
PICK: Spencer Strider (Padres) at +700 from DraftKings Sportsbook
American League Rookie of the Year Award Odds
The Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez is far ahead of the field in the AL, per numbers as of this August 11 update:
| PLAYER | TEAM | Use code TODAY at BetMGM | Use code SHARP250 at BetRivers | FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julio Rodriguez | SEA | -600 | -670 | -550 |
| Jeremy Pena | HOU | +800 | +950 | +1000 |
| Bobby Witt Jr. | KCR | +800 | +1600 | +1200 |
| Adley Rutschman | BAL | +3000 | +4000 | +3000 |
| Joe Ryan | MIN | +8000 | +10000 | +13000 |
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AL Rookie of the Year Candidates
Here’s a snapshot of Rookie of the Year odds in the Junior Circuit as we move through August.
Jeremy Peña, SS (Astros)
Playing for a winner helps, and Peña is on arguably the most talented team in his league. Even if he didn’t have pop at the plate, Peña would be worth a watch because of his amazing defensive play at shortstop. He really should win the AL Gold Glove Award, and might. He’s hit 15 homers, which has helped Astros sort of forget about Carlos Correa.
Julio Rodríguez, CF (Mariners)
The young slugger who thrust himself onto the national scene at the All-Star Game during the Home Run Derby, Rodriguez is out of the lineup with a wrist injury. The Mariners are saying it’s nothing to worry about, but wrists are tricky, and it can take a while for a batter to get the feel back at the dish after suffering such a setback.
Bobby Witt Jr., SS/3B (Royals)
The future is now for Bobby Witt Jr., son of a former big league pitcher. The junior Witt is dazzling KC fans with strong throws from the left side of the infield. But he’s extra special at the plate where the rookie has slugged 19 doubles and 15 home runs this season. His .741 OPS is the highest of any batting title-qualifying batter in the American League.
Riley Greene, CF (Tigers) and Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B (Royals)
Neither of these young players has been in the lineup enough to squeeze their way into the ROY race. After a nice start for Detroit, Greene has slowed at the plate, but he still provides plus-defense in center field. It’s possible he could win a Gold Glove in the future.
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