2024 MLB Rookie of the Year Betting Odds and Predictions

Spring Training Analysis

Holliday did not have an opportunity to play in the big leagues last season. Despite an impressive Spring Training in 2023, the Orioles didn’t want to rush him.

After hitting .429 with a .556 OBP in 16 exhibition matchups last season, Holliday returned to Spring Training with aspirations of making the Opening Day roster in 2024. While he looks for his first home run, the shortstop has been making solid contact.

Through seven games, Holliday is hitting .333, with two doubles and two triples. The athletic prospect has also swiped a base and scored two runs this spring in the Grapefruit League.

Holliday MLB Outlook

In 2023, after hitting .314 or better in Single-A, A+, and Double-A, Holliday was called up to Triple-A. He connected for a respectable .267 batting average and two home runs in 18 games².

He is a natural shortstop, but there is an opening at second base for Holliday. 2023 AL Rookie of the Year, Gunnar Henderson, has shortstop covered in Baltimore. Nevertheless, Holliday is not guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster at second base.

Has the rookie deserved a spot on the Major League roster? Currently, it’s questionable given his overall body of work in Spring Training. He is 50/50 to open the regular season with the Orioles.

Spring Training Analysis

Carter’s hot bat has carried over to Spring Training in 2024. He is playing like a guy determined to be an everyday player for the Rangers this season. In 18 at-bats, Carter is hitting .389 with a .400 OBP.

In addition to reaching base, Carter has shown off some of his exceptional power. After going deep five times in his first taste of the Major Leagues, he’s added two home runs in Spring Training to his tally, which came in the same outing.

Carter MLB Outlook

Although the Rangers are crowded with young talent, they will have a spot for the No. 5 ranked prospect in MLB. With a larger sample size of at-bats, Carter likely won’t maintain his .306 batting average and .413 OBP from last season’s 23-game debut³.

That being said, the 21-year-old native of Elizabethton, Tennessee, doesn’t need to come close to that pace to win Rookie of the Year in the AL. It would be an incredible accomplishment if it did happen, but he has room to cool off and still win.

Josh Jung and Carter are two of the most exciting young players in baseball. A year after Jung lost the AL Rookie of the Year to an Oriole, Carter has a good chance of flipping the table in favor of the Rangers in 2024.

Spring Training Analysis

Langford has been red-hot through Spring Training. The torrid pace in the minors has translated to Langford torching the ball in the Cactus League.

The promising 22-year-old is hitting .353 with an impressive .450 OBP and three home runs in 17-at bats⁴. With that in mind, there hasn’t been any letdown for Langford through the 2024 pre-season.

Langford MLB Outlook

The only question with Langford is whether he will start the season with the Rangers or down in Triple-A. This wouldn’t be a difficult decision for most clubs, but the Rangers have a loaded outfield.

The defending World Series champions have a good problem to have with Langford and the other young studs on this roster. Regardless, with Langford swinging the bat how he has been through Spring Training, it will be tough to deny him a spot in the Major Leagues.

Expect Langford to grow alongside Carter, while competing for the AL Rookie of the Year award. The Rangers are in a good spot in 2024 and will be for the foreseeable future with this young core in Arlington.

Spring Training Analysis

The power numbers haven’t been there for Schanuel thus far in Spring Training, either. He has sent no balls over the fence in 24 at-bats.

If Schanuel isn’t hitting long balls consistently, he isn’t going to have a chance at AL Rookie of the Year. He is hitting .292, which isn’t going to be good enough without the home runs to back him up⁵.

Schanuel MLB Outlook

With Ohtani departing for the Dodgers, 2024 is another throwaway year for the Angels. Fortunately, the young players, including Schanuel, will have a chance to make an impression on the front office.

Still, Schanuel isn’t going to garner Rookie of the Year attention before figuring out his power stroke. I’m not an optimist at this point, but you should still keep an eye on him.

Spring Training Analysis

On Feb. 28, Yamamoto made his MLB debut against the Texas Rangers. The 25-year-old was near perfect in two innings of work. He allowed just one hit and didn’t walk any batters.

Yamamoto concluded the contest with an ERA of 0.00 and a 0.50 WHIP. It isn’t much of a sample size, but the Dodgers know what they have in the highly coveted right-hander.

Yamamoto MLB Outlook

If Yamamoto stays healthy, the Dodgers should have one of the best pitchers in baseball in their rotation. He is the real deal; I have no doubts about that.

With a fastball that touches roughly 95 mph on the gun, and a curveball to make hitter’s knees buckle, Yamamoto is on course to excel at the highest level. He will look spectacular and unhittable at times.

However, a couple of poor starts, or a shoulder injury and Yamamoto will be trying to play catch up with the other rookies for the rest of the season.

Regardless, Yamamoto is a strong favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year and could be an interesting choice in the Cy Young odds.

Spring Training Analysis

Hoo Lee has made the most out of his five appearances in Spring Training. Through 13 at-bats, Hoo Lee has connected at the plate for a .462 batting average and .533 OBP⁸.

He has also showcased a bit of power, with a long ball in his second MLB Spring Training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. There isn’t any need for the Giants to overexert Lee before the season opens at the end of the month.

They are well aware of what they have with the multi-talented Korean outfielder. It’s always a good sign when a club doesn’t feel inclined to give a rookie extended work in Spring Training.

Lee MLB Outlook

The NL Rookie of the Year odds imply that Lee has a probability of 18.2% to win the award. While the Giants won’t be a World Series winner prediction for the majority of bettors, it might change if Lee and the younger players start fast this season.

Power numbers should be difficult for Lee at Oracle Park, but he will hit for contact regularly. Also, he likely won’t strike out at a concerning clip and hurt his team in critical moments of games.

Players from the KBO don’t have the best track record of having success in the Major Leagues, but Lee has the talent to be an exception.

Spring Training Analysis

The athletic 22-year-old has picked right up where he left off in Spring Training. Through two starts, Marte is hitting .600 with two doubles and a stolen base in five at-bats.

Marte had a late start debut in Spring Training due to a hamstring injury, but he is reportedly fine now. The Reds feel good about Marte developing into an All-Star with his bat and glove.

Marte MLB Outlook

Marte has an incredibly bright future in the Reds organization. He’s only 22 years old but plays beyond his years already.

With Marte already having 35 games of MLB regular season experience, expect him to hit the ground running right away in 2024. It shouldn’t take him too long to feel comfortable this season.

Despite MLB ranking Marte as the No. 21 prospect in 2024, I believe he has an opportunity to easily eclipse those expectations.

• Wilyer Abreu (+1500) – Abreu impressed with a .316 average in 76 at-bats with the Red Sox in 2023. He’s gotten off to a slow start in Spring Training but could be a major threat once he finds his swing again.
• Colton Cowser (+3000) – Currently, Cowser is fighting to earn a roster spot with the Orioles. As he continues to play well, expect to see Cowser up with Baltimore in the Major Leagues. He is a top NL Rookie of the Year pick at +3000 odds.

• Dylan Crews (+3000) – Crews was selected with the second overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft. The 22-year-old native of Altamonte Springs, Florida, is raw, but the No. 7 ranked prospect has all the intangibles to get hot once he’s comfortable in the Majors.
• Mick Abel (+5000) – If you are interested in selecting a pitcher to win Rookie of the Year, the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect, Mick Abel, is worth considering at +5000.

My top AL Rookie of the Year pick is between the two rookies from Texas. Carter and Langford should have an opportunity to shine in Arlington this season.

Realistically, Carter likely has the best chance of edging out Langford, though. While the latter is an enticing option at +550, I am inclined to side with the guy who has already proven himself in Major League games.

Experience should be the deciding factor in what is an amazing situation for the Rangers, who have two outstanding rookies in their stable this season.

Also, while Langford will get the call to play in Baltimore, Carter is a lock to be an Opening Day starter in the outfield. After winning the 2023 World Series, expect the Rangers to reload for another run behind Carter and the other young guns.

There is a plethora of value on Marte winning the NL Rookie of the Year at +750.

The Dominican played extremely well in his brief first MLB season but isn’t being regarded as highly as Lee or Yamamoto at this price. For a player of Marte’s caliber, I believe +750 is a mistake from oddsmakers.

Again, a pitcher hasn’t won the NL ROY since deGrom in 2014. If Yamamoto had better value, then sure, but I am not excited about +190 odds.

Instead, all the value is on the Reds’ rookie shortstop. Look for Marte to impress in more than one way this season. He is somewhat of a sleeper pick at +750 odds, but this is where the value lies.