- Get the latest betting odds on the top favorites for MLB Comeback Player of the Year.
- Garrett Crochet and Chris Sale won these awards in 2024.
- Mike Trout and Ronald Acuña Jr. begin as betting favorites this season.
MLB’s Comeback Player of the Year race could be as entertaining as ever, with several high-profile candidates expected to be in the mix.
Mike Trout enters as the betting favorite in the American League, but Jacob deGrom, Shane McClanahan, and Félix Bautista are not far behind. Ronald Acuña Jr. is the favorite in the National League, though Sandy Alcántara looks dominant this spring.
So, who will come out on top in these competitive races?
Here’s a look at the latest MLB odds and my predictions for this year’s Comeback Player of the Year market:
AL Comeback Player of the Year Odds 2025: Favorites
| Player | Team | Odds | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Trout | Angels | +200 | +300 |
| Jacob deGrom | Rangers | +200 | +450 |
| Bo Bichette | Blue Jays | +500 | +600 |
| Casey Mize | Tigers | +700 | +2200 |
| Félix Bautista | Orioles | +800 | +500 |
| Trevor Story | Red Sox | +1000 | +1000 |
| Javier Baez | Tigers | +1000 | N/A |
| Shane McClanahan | Rays | +2000 | +600 |
| Max Scherzer | Blue Jays | +2000 | +1600 |
| José Urquidy | Astros | +25000 | +2500 |
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout remains the betting favorite to win AL Comeback Player of the Year, trading at +200 odds which imply a probability of 33.33%. Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom has shifted from +450 to +200 to join Trout at the top of this market.
Both players are some of the best at their position when healthy. But that’s precisely the problem.
Given their track record, I’m more tempted by the options further down this board.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton shares a comparable health reputation to the favorites in this market; however, his +2500 odds are significantly more attractive.
Buxton has had only one season in which he played over 100 games since 2017. If he returns to All-Star consideration for the first time since 2022 while leading the Twins to an AL Central title, it could create a pretty interesting case.
I would wait for this market to stabilize with more potential candidates in the coming weeks, but it’s Buxton or pass in this race as of early April.
Prediction: Byron Buxton (+2500)
NL Comeback Player of the Year Odds 2025: Favorites
| Player | Team | Odds | Preseason Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | Braves | +300 | +250 |
| Sandy Alcántara | Marlins | +300 | +450 |
| Spencer Strider | Braves | +400 | +400 |
| Matt McLain | Reds | +500 | +550 |
| Dustin May | Dodgers | +500 | +1800 |
| Robbie Ray | Giants | +700 | +1600 |
| Brandon Woodruff | Brewers | +1000 | +650 |
| Jordan Walker | Cardinals | +16000 | +2200 |
| Kodai Senga | Mets | +2000 | +900 |
| Jung Hoo Lee | Giants | +2000 | +1600 |
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. continues to lead as the betting favorite (+300) for the NL Comeback Player of the Year. Miami Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcántara now shares that distinction with him after holding +450 odds in the spring.
There is downside to backing either player in this market, though.
Acuña has not yet returned to action and may be more cautious on the base paths upon his return. I wonder how much upside he can offer as the lead contender in this market.
Alcántara would be an easy choice for this award if I knew he was remaining in the NL. However, the likelihood of him being traded at the deadline is high, which would remove him from consideration if he ends up in a location like Baltimore.
This brings me to explore other options in this market. San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is an intriguing choice at +2000.
Lee had high expectations last spring after signing a six-year, $113 million deal to transition from KBO to MLB. However, an injury curtailed his debut season, restricting him to just 37 games.
In what is like a second rookie season, Lee could surprise people this year.
Prediction: Jung Hoo Lee (+2000)
List of AL & NL Comeback Player of the Year Winners
| Year | AL Winner | NL Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Garrett Crochet | Chris Sale |
| 2023 | Liam Hendriks | Cody Bellinger |
| 2022 | Justin Verlander | Albert Pujols |
| 2021 | Trey Mancini | Buster Posey |
| 2020 | Salvador Perez | Daniel Bard |
| 2019 | Carlos Carrasco | Josh Donaldson |
| 2018 | David Price | Jonny Venters |
| 2017 | Mike Moustakas | Greg Holland |
| 2016 | Rick Porcello | Anthony Rendon |
| 2015 | Prince Fielder | Matt Harvey |
| 2014 | Chris Young | Casey McGehee |
| 2013 | Mariano Rivera | Francisco Liriano |
| 2012 | Fernando Rodney | Buster Posey |
| 2011 | Jacoby Ellsbury | Lance Berkman |
| 2010 | Francisco Liriano | Tim Hudson |
| 2009 | Aaron Hill | Chris Carpenter |
| 2008 | Cliff Lee | Brad Lidge |
| 2007 | Carlos Pena | Dmitri Young |
| 2006 | Jim Thome | Nomar Garciaparra |
| 2005 | Jason Giambi | Ken Griffey Jr. |
When was the Comeback Player of the Year Award Introduced in MLB?
Major League Baseball introduced a Comeback Player of the Year award in 2005, awarding one player in each league who reemerged on the field during the season.
Who Votes for MLB Comeback Player of the Year?
The 30 club beat reporters from MLB.com (one per team) vote for a winner for each league from a list of 30 candidates.
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