Cincinnati Reds’ second baseman Jonathan India won the NL Rookie of the Year Award with near-unanimous support last year; he earned 29 of 30 first-place votes.
Entering the 2022 season, there are plenty of rookies to choose from, including international imports, blue-chip hitters, and highly touted arms. Here’s a look at MLB odds for this year’s NL Rookie of the Year:
NL Rookie of the Year Odds
- Seiya Suzuki: +350
- Oneil Cruz: +400
- Hunter Greene: +700
- Bryson Stott: +900
- C.J. Abrams: +1000
- Joey Bart: +1100
- Sixto Sanchez: +1400
- Alek Thomas: +1800
- Edward Cabrera: +2500
- Matt Vierling: +2500
- Brennen Davis: +2500
- Nolan Gorman: +2500
C.J. Abrams (+1000)
C.J. Abrams’ opening odds were +5000 but moved to +1000 with 48.4 percent of the handle at BetMGM.
The San Diego Padres prospect finds himself in an interesting situation. Fernando Tatis Jr. will miss a few months due to a wrist injury that required surgery, which leaves a hole at shortstop. Abrams is the team’s top-ranked prospect (ninth overall), who also happens to play shortstop.
Manager Bob Melvin has thrown out the possibility of Abrams getting a shot at center field, which means he has the potential to continue to see at-bats even when Tatis returns. If Abrams gets a shot early and impresses, he could stick with the big club for the entire season.
Seiya Suzuki (+350)
Seiya Suzuki might be the most intriguing player entering the major leagues this season.
There is always a lot of interest when international stars make their way to MLB and Suzuki is no different. Over his nine-year career in Japan, Suzuki had 1,088 hits, 621 RBI, 611 runs, and 189 home runs in 3,521 at-bats. He hit .309, had a .402 OBP, and a .943 OPS.
Through spring training, Suzuki had a slow start going 0-for-8 before hitting his first major league hit, a two-run bomb to center field. There will be an adjustment period for him to get used to major league arms, but Suzuki comes in with a proven track record and a lot of experience.
His past success is probably the reason for having the second-highest handle at 13.8 percent and why his odds have moved from +500 to +350.
Hunter Greene (+700)
Hunter Greene has seen his odds move from +1000 to +700 after being named the Cincinnati Reds’ fourth starter.
The second-overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft lost his 2019 season to Tommy John surgery, but he can still hit 100 mph with his fastball. The 22-year-old is the Reds’ top-ranked prospect (22nd overall) and being named to the Opening Day roster will give him plenty of opportunities to show why.
In 2021, Greene pitched for Chattanooga in Double-A and Louisville in Triple-A. He had five wins and no losses in Double-AA, a 1.98 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts in 41 innings. In Triple-A, Greene had five wins, eight losses, a 4.13 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts in 65.1 innings.
Only one of the past seven NL Rookie of the Year winners has been a pitcher, so it might be an uphill battle for Greene to get the nod, but being named a starter is a good beginning.
MLB Odds at BetMGM
The best MLB betting experience is at the BetMGM sportsbook. Whether you’re a first-time bettor browsing moneylines, a casual fan building a parlay with run lines, or a diehard betting on player props, there’s something for everyone at the online sportsbook.
