As the MLB season moves out of the All-Star break, this is a look at the updated odds to win both the National League and American League Rookie of the Year awards.
NL Rookie of the Year Odds
Jacob Misiorowski is the heavy favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year. The Milwaukee pitcher just made an appearance at the All-Star Game, despite making just five career starts up to this point. Last season, NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes had made 11 starts at this point in the season, so more than twice as many as Misiorowski. That being said, Misiorowski is clearly a budding star in the sport and among pitchers, he is the only viable option to win the award. Misiorowski has a 2.81 ERA and is striking out 11.6 batters per nine innings. That K/9 figure would be the best in the National League if Misiorowski were considered an “eligible pitcher,” but he has not thrown enough innings yet.
Behind Misiorowski is Braves catcher Drake Baldwin. Baldwin has established himself as the go-to guy behind the plate for Atlanta, starting over two-thirds of its games so far, some of those at DH. At the most valuable defensive position in baseball, behind the plate, he has a good argument to win the Rookie of the Year award. He is tied with Matt Olson for the second-best OPS on the team, behind only Ronald Acuna Jr.
AL Rookie of the Year Odds
Jacob Wilson also made the All-Star Game as a rookie. Wilson did make 28 appearances last year, but that did not qualify as a full season. That makes this Wilson’s rookie season, and he is thriving on the Athletics. Wilson is batting .332 with an .837 OPS on the season. Among players with at least 200 plate appearances, he ranks second in the MLB in batting average, behind only Aaron Judge.
Second on the odds list, just behind Wilson, is Cam Smith of the Houston Astros. Smith has a .765 OPS, and while he’s having a great rookie season, he has not been up to Wilson’s standard. The third name in the mix is Nick Kurtz, also of the Athletics. Kurtz is more of a power threat than Smith and Wilson, with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs on the season. Both of these players could get hot and steal the award, but at the moment, it’s Jacob Wilson’s award to lose.
