Similar to the American League, the National League has a clear front runner in the Rookie of the Year contest. Seiya Suzuki has blasted onto the scene for the Chicago Cubs, looking to join the likes of Japanese-born superstars such as Shohei Ohtani and Ichiro Suzuki.
Having said that, there’s some interesting competition battling Suzuki for NL Rookie of the Year honors. Which players could pry the award away from the Cubs’ outfielder? Let’s take a look at BetMGM’s NL Rookie of the Year odds to find out.
| Player | Team | Odds |
| Seiya Suzuki | Chicago Cubs | -160 |
| MacKenzie Gore | San Diego Padres | +900 |
| Hunter Greene | Cincinnati Reds | +1000 |
| Oneil Cruz | Pittsburgh Pirates | +1600 |
| C.J. Abrams | San Diego Padres | +2000 |
| Seth Beer | Arizona Diamondbacks | +2000 |
| Max Meyer | Miami Marlins | +2000 |
| Nick Lodolo | Cincinnati Reds | +2000 |
| Joey Bart | San Francisco Giants | +3000 |
| Nolan Gorman | St. Louis Cardinals | +3500 |
NL Rookie of the Year odds and betting data via BetMGM as of May 13, 2022.
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OF Seiya Suzuki: Chicago Cubs (-160)
Rarely do you get such an overwhelming favorite in a major award category. Suzuki’s scouting report detailed an excellent hitter from both sides of the plate who can also impress on the defensive side of the ball. During his time with the Hiroshima Carp, Suzuki racked up outfield assists at an incredible rate. Also, his 38 home runs and .335 batting average last season in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League set the stage for his debut in the majors.
For these reasons among many others, BetMGM has seen the highest amount of bets (39.8 percent) and money (66.9 percent) placed on the hopeful Cubs superstar. Now this much confidence could be an incredible push for the impressive rookie, or it could create unrealistic expectations that also make Suzuki BetMGM’s biggest liability.
The season has only just begun, but Suzuki is already showing bettors why the hype was real before he joined the Cubs. He is currently batting .255 with four home runs. Look for potentially 20-plus dingers after this hot start to the season. Things are looking good for Suzuki, and he’ll get the necessary playing time to build a strong resume atop the NL Rookie of the Year odds board. But keep in mind that one injury can change it all, and there are other youngsters out there with more than enough talent to contend for this award.
SS C.J Abrams: San Diego Padres (+2000)
Abrams is a fascinating case of true elite speed, which was a huge reason San Diego drafted him sixth overall in 2019. The Padres gave him a quick start in the big leagues due to an injury to Fernando Tatis Jr., but Abrams could not capitalize in his first month as the starting shortstop. He is now back in Triple-A El Paso for a reset after batting .182 to start his big league career. However, based on BetMGM’s betting data, sports betting enthusiasts are still confident the young infielder can bounce back for a strong season to contend for the award.
The electrifying rookie has brought in 11.3 percent of bets so far and 9.3 percent of money. That is second-most behind Suzuki in both categories. His odds to win the NL Rookie of the Year have even jumped from +5000 to +2000 after the Padres recently sent him down to Triple-A due to a tough start to the season. Look for Abrams to bounce back strong after homering three times in his first two games in the minors. The 21-year-old went 5 for 10 in those two games and clearly wants another shot on the big stage. If he gets that chance, then Suzuki could have some serious competition for the hardware.
SP MacKenzie Gore: San Diego Padres (+900)
A teammate of Abrams looks to be on a similar push on the NL Rookie of the Year odds board. Both Gore and Abrams made their debuts with San Diego. While Abrams struggled, Gore performed exceptionally well on the mound. What was thought to be an interim replacement for the injured likes of Blake Snell and Mike Clevinger turned into a promising young rookie who has earned a spot in the Padres’ rotation.
Gore’s odds on BetMGM started at +4000. They are now +900. That is an incredible leap for a pitcher, especially this early in the season. Most of that revolves around Gore’s growing opportunity as a new member of San Diego’s pitching rotation. In other words, bettors believe Gore can run with his chance to shine in the big leagues.
It’s still early, but Gore has the numbers to back that up. The Padres’ southpaw currently owns a 2.42 ERA and has shown flashes of brilliance throughout many of his starts so far. Look for him to perform on the bump like the number six overall prospect he was projected as before he entered the bigs.