MLB Rookie of the Year Odds 2026: AL & NL Favorites, Predictions

Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt are the betting favorites in the latest MLB Rookie of the Year odds at BetMGM.

Get the latest MLB odds and predictions for the 2026 Rookie of the Year races:

AL Rookie of the Year Odds 2026: Favorites

Who is Favored to Win AL Rookie of the Year in 2026?

Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle has returned as the betting favorite in the latest AL Rookie of the Year odds at BetMGM. At -145, he has an implied probability of 59.18% to claim the award.

McGonigle and Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami have traded places as the AL Rookie of the Year favorite multiple times this season. McGonigle’s latest rise to the top came after Murakami landed on the injured list in late May. Murakami is expected to miss four to six weeks, meaning his chances of claiming this trophy are now slim at best.

Days before the injury, Murakami passed McGonigle as the favorite in this market. In mid-May, McGonigle and Murakami briefly shared the lead as co-favorites, with the former pulling ahead.

McGonigle also jumped ahead of Murakami in early May. That came after Murakami passed Cleveland Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter in late April. DeLauter became the frontrunner in early April, leaping past McGonigle.

McGonigle entered the year as a co-favorite along with Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto. Both players pushed past Toronto pitcher Trey Yesavage, who had been the frontrunner since the market was released.

In total, there have been five different AL Rookie of the Year favorites in 2026.

AL Rookie of the Year Prediction 2026

Prediction: Kevin McGonigle

McGonigle remains my pick to win AL Rookie of the Year. McGonigle, the No. 37 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is hitting .286 with a 3.4 bWAR through his first 64 games. He’s established himself as Detroit’s starting shortstop and a franchise player in his debut season.

Murakami was a worthy challenger, launching 20 home runs in his first 57 games after I backed him as a 100/1 long shot in the home run leader odds market. However, I don’t really see a path for him to win this award now, after an extended absence. His odds will continue to fall in this market.

As a result, Travis Bazzana, Samuel Basallo, and Parker Messick are among the top contenders. But this is firmly McGonigle’s award to lose right now.

Best challenger: Travis Bazzana
Value to watch: Parker Messick
Long shot to monitor: Kazuma Okamoto

AL Rookie of the Year Betting: Most Popular Bets

As of this writing, here are the most popular bets in the 2026 AL Rookie of the Year market at BetMGM:

Most tickets
Kevin McGonigle 26%
Chase DeLauter 13.3%
Munetaka Murakami 11.4%

Highest handle
Kevin McGonigle 30.6%
Munetaka Murakami 14%
Chase DeLauter 11%

NL Rookie of the Year Odds 2026: Favorites

Who is Favored to Win NL Rookie of the Year in 2026?

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt is the betting favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year award. At +110, Wetherholt has an implied probability of 47.62%.

Wetherholt is the fourth different NL Rookie of the Year odds favorite at BetMGM, earning that distinction by propelling past New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean in late May. McLean had been the favorite for a week, overtaking Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart.

Stewart’s most recent rise to the top came in April after Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin got off to a slow start. Griffin passed Stewart ahead of his MLB debut on April 3. Stewart surged into contention after a dominant opening weekend. He was named NL Player of the Week after reaching base 10 times in Cincinnati’s first three games, becoming the first Reds player to accomplish that feat since 2001.

Before the early-season back-and-forth between Stewart and Griffin, McLean entered the year as the preseason favorite at +340. Griffin overtook him during spring training, though McLean briefly reclaimed the top spot before Opening Day when Griffin didn’t make Pittsburgh’s initial roster.

NL Rookie of the Year Prediction 2026

Prediction: JJ Wetherholt

For much of the spring, Wetherholt has been my NL Rookie of the Year prediction. In his first MLB campaign since being the No. 7 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Wetherholt has a bWAR of 2.7 and has been a key contributor for a St. Louis team that has exceeded expectations.

So far this season, Wetherholt is hitting .245 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 60 games.

Still, the NL ROY race remains competitive. Stewart’s offensive profile makes him a threat. Pitchers face a harder path because hitters play every day, but McLean has delivered thus far with the Mets. Griffin is the best prospect in baseball.

There is a reason why five players are trading at +1600 or better in this market.

Best challenger: Sal Stewart
Value to watch: Nolan McLean
Long shot to monitor: Carson Benge

NL Rookie of the Year Betting: Most Popular Bets

As of this writing, here are the most popular bets in the 2026 NL Rookie of the Year market at BetMGM:

Most tickets
Konnor Griffin 17.1%
Sal Stewart 13.8%
JJ Wetherholt 12.5%

Highest handle
Konnor Griffin 38.1%
Sal Stewart 12.9%
JJ Wetherholt 10.9%

2025 AL Rookie of the Year Voting

2025 NL Rookie of the Year Voting

List of AL & NL Rookie of the Year Winners

*There was only one award for both leagues in 1947 and 1948.

MLB Teams With Most Rookie of the Year Awards

The Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers have the most Rookie of the Year Awards (18):

Dodgers: 18
Yankees: 10
Braves: 10
Athletics: 9
Orioles: 8
Reds: 8

Has a Rookie Ever Won the Cy Young Award?

Only one rookie has won the Cy Young Award: Fernando Valenzuela.

Valenzuela was a 21-year-old rookie for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 when he led the MLB in strikeouts and lead the Dodgers to the World Series.

Has an MLB Rookie Ever Won MVP?

Two rookies have won MVP: Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki.

Lynn won AL MVP in 1975 after leading the Boston Red Sox to 95 regular-season wins and a World Series appearance in the World Series. Ichiro won AL MVP in 2001 as the Seattle Mariners tied the MLB record for most wins in a season (116).