MLB Futures Props – 2025 Picks & Analysis

The 2025 MLB season is right around the corner, and we have all your MLB futures props covered with our top picks for next season.
Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The 2025 MLB season is right around the corner, and we have all your MLB futures props covered with our top picks for next season.

Make sure to check back each week for any updates regarding the picks and odds for our top MLB futures props.

MLB Futures Props – 2025 Picks & Analysis

Below you’ll find our top MLB futures props for the 2025 season.

American League Rookie of the Year: Kumar Rocker (+1600)

Kumar Rocker was the second pick in the MLB Amateur Draft in 2022. He quickly dispatched the minors, reaching The Show for three starts for the Rangers last year. According to FanGraphs, in three starts spanning 11.2 for Texas, Rocker had a 3.86 ERA, 3.17 xERA, 3.86 xFIP, and 25.5 K%. The righty’s strikeout rate was validated by his excellent 13.3 SwStr% (11.1% was the MLB average in 2024). 

The red carpet isn’t rolled out for Rocker to open the year in Texas’ rotation. Nevertheless, there are ample avenues for him to claim a spot in the rotation early enough in the year to build a case for the American League Rookie of the Year Award, and his encouraging cup of coffee last year should help him avoid shrinking in the bright lights.

Where to play: Kumar Rocker AL ROTY | FanDuel Sportsbook

National League Rookie of the Year: Roki Sasaki (+200)

Roki Sasaki is the chalk to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Yet, he’s justifiably priced as an accomplished professional pitcher with electrifying stuff.

According to Baseball Reference, Sasaki spun a 2.10 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 32.7 K% in 64 games and 394.2 innings in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The wunderkind has the front-line stuff to support his dominant numbers. Per Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, Sasaki’s fastball is at least a 70 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale and averaged 96.8 mph in 2024. Sasaki’s splitter is even more devastating, and some scouts grade his slider as another above-average pitch. Sasaki should have no trouble hitting the ground running in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Where to play: Roki Sasaki NL ROTY | FanDuel Sportsbook

American League Cy Young Award: Cole Ragans (+1100)

Cole Ragans’ breakout began after the Royals traded for him in 2023, and he built on his breakout last season. Among qualified pitchers in the American League in 2024, Ragans was seventh in innings pitched (186.1), eighth in ERA (3.14), tied for fourth in xERA (3.31), second in strikeout rate (29.3 K%), and third in swinging-strike percentage (14.4 SwStr%). 

The young lefty has the ability to pile up innings and punchouts while sustaining a low ERA. Ragans’ ERA estimators validated his ERA last season. Six of eight Cy Young Award winners since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season have had at least 222 strikeouts. Ragans had 223 in 2024, putting him on the short list of pitchers capable of reaching that strikeout threshold with a sterling ERA.

Where to play: Cole Ragans AL Cy Young | FanDuel Sportsbook

National League Cy Young Award: Spencer Schwellenbach (+4500)

Spencer Schwellenbach made two career starts in Double-A and zero in Triple-A before the Braves summoned him from the minors. Schwellenbach was more than up to the task, spinning a 3.35 ERA, 3.44 xERA, 3.34 xFIP, 3.42 SIERA, 1.04 WHIP, 4.6 BB%, 25.4 K%, 13.5 SwStr%, 29.7 CSW%, 105 Stuff+, 109 Location+, and 113 Pitching+ in 21 starts spanning 123.2 innings. 

Schwellenbach didn’t need much seasoning in the upper minors before carving up major leaguers. Moreover, he amassed 168.2 innings between the majors and the minors, positioning him to approach or surpass 200 innings this year. Schwellenbach is a more viable pick to win the National League Cy Young Award than his betting odds suggest, making him a tantalizing bargain pick.

Where to play: Spencer Schwellenbach NL Cy Young | FanDuel Sportsbook

American League MVP Award: Gunnar Henderson (+700)

Aaron Judge is understandably priced as the favorite to win the American League MVP after claiming that honor last year and in 2022. However, his odds are too chalky, and Gunnar Henderson’s odds are a relative bargain compared to Judge’s (+300) and Bobby Witt Jr.’s (+350).

According to FanGraphs, Henderson was worth 8.0 WAR in 2024. He had a blend of power (37 homers), speed (21 stolen bases), run production (118 runs and 92 RBIs), patience (10.8 BB%), and above-average defense. Henderson is the total package and could even unearth a few more bombs if his 9.2-degree launch angle from 2024 ticks upward toward his 11.4-degree launch angle from 2023 while maintaining his elite exit velocity (92.8 mph in 2024) and hard-hit rate (53.9 HardHit%). Henderson also has room to pull a few more balls for bombs. 

Henderson is also a darling in projections. Among players in the American League, THE BAT, ZiPS, and Steamer project Henderson will finish second in WAR (6.6), tied for second in WAR (6.1), and tied for second in WAR (7.1). Baltimore’s stud infielder should be priced much closer to Judge and Witt. 

Where to play: Gunnar Henderson AL MVP | FanDuel Sportsbook

National League MVP Award: Francisco Lindor (+2200)

Shohei Ohtani (+155) is correctly priced as the uber-chalky favorite to win the National League MVP Award. However, there’s no value in tying up any of your bankroll on him to win the National League MVP at such short odds. Instead, let’s presume his return to the hill from his second Tommy John surgery or his performance at the plate after having offseason shoulder surgery isn’t up to his typical otherworldly level. If that’s the case, there’s value abound for MVP candidates in the National League, and no one offers more value than Francisco Lindor.

Lindor has an elite bat and glove. According to Baseball Savant, Lindor was second in fielding run value among shortstops with at least 750 innings in 2024. Additionally, in 689 plate appearances, the switch-hitting shortstop had 33 homers, 29 stolen bases, 107 runs, 91 RBIs, a .273 batting average, .344 OBP, .500 slugging, and 137 wRC+. Remarkably, Lindor’s batting average, slugging, and wOBA (.363) were less than his .283 xBA, .528 xSLG, and .379 xwOBA.

The Mets signed Juan Soto and re-signed Pete Alonso, adding impressive firepower to the lineup. Thus, the moves will increase Lindor’s run-production potential. Lindor is the total package and comically underpriced in the NL MVP race.

Where to play: Francisco Lindor NL MVP | FanDuel Sportsbook