MLB Rookie of the Year Odds: 2026 Early Season Favorites

Of all the awards handed out in the major sports, the Rookie of the Year (ROTY) honors in Major League Baseball are the most unpredictable.

That's because MLB prospects are often brought along slowly in this sport, as opposed to football and basketball, for example. Often, ROTY candidates can emerge in the second half of a season, even when playing relatively fewer games. That makes it difficult to forecast the rookie of the year winners.

(Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The 2026 season is proving to be different. So far, many exciting rookies have gotten off to excellent starts. Both the AL and NL have numerous rookies playing prominent roles. We may see as many as half a dozen rookie MLB All-Stars this season.

Odds for ROTY awards (one in each league) are found in your favorite baseball sportsbook under the MLB Futures or the Awards section.

In this article I'll briefly examine the top candidates to win 2026 MLB Rookie of the Year in MLB. Odds are from BetMGM Sportsbook.

AL Rookie of the Year Award Odds

• Kevin McGonigle ... +220
• Munetaka Murakami ... +260
• Chase DeLauter ... +320
• Parker Messick ... +550
• Carter Jensen ... +1500
• Kazuma Okamoto ... +1800
• Connelly Early ... +2000
• Samuel Basallo ... +3000
• Trey Yesavage ... +4000

Kevin McGonigle Rookie of the Year Odds

The Detroit Tigers have handed a job to McGonigle, a 21-year old infielder. Better way to say it: McGonigle won a job, earning his way into an anemic lineup. After only three weeks of the season, including a four-hit debut, McGonigle squeezed an eight-year, $150 million contract from the usually stingy Tigers. It's obvious that McGonigle is the new face of the franchise.

McGonigle is the odds favorite, and he'll have an advantage because Detroit has to keep him on the roster. He'll get loads of plate appearances, and that means hits, total bases, RBI, etc. Unless his bat goes into a funk, he should be the favorite for AL ROTY.

Munetaka Murakami ROTY Odds

How do you get attention for a regular season award? Hit oodles of home runs. That's the advantage afforded Murakami, who is playing his first season stateside after a career in professional baseball in his native Japan. A left-handed slugging first baseman, Murakami already has eight home runs before the end of April. If he gets to 40+, it will be difficult to keep the ROTY from him.

Chase DeLauter ROTY Odds

DeLauter is a former first round pick, now ensconced in right field for the Guardians. In college he was a .400 hitter. In the minors he was a high average hitter with gap power. He's always going to get on base a lot. DeLauter already has five home runs. It's possible that the 24-year old will have more power and be a better hitter than McGonigle long-term.

NL Rookie of the Year Award Odds

• Sal Stewart ... +140
• Nolan McLean ... +260
• JJ Wetherholt ... +900
• Konnor Griffin ... +1000
• Moises Ballesteros ... +1100
• Bubba Chandler ... +2000
• Owen Caissie ... +2000
• Andrew Painter ... +2200
• Justin Crawford ... +3000
• Felix Reyes ... +3000
• TJ Rumfield ... +4000

Sal Stewart, Reds

Stewart looks like Groucho Marx, but hits a baseball like Albert Pujols. He has tremendous plate coverage and power from the right side. Stewart currently leads the National League in home runs and RBI, and he has the perfect all-fields swing to attack the many favorable HR-parks in the senior circuit. If he wins the NL ROTY, Stewart would be the first Cincinnati infielder to do so since Chris Sabo in 1988.

Nolan McLean, Mets

We saw how brilliant McLean can be in a small taste last September when he posted a 2.06 ERA and 10.7 K's per nine in eight starts. Then we witnessed the thin right-hander perform well on the international stage in the World Baseball Classic. Now, the Mets rookie starter is proving he's an ace: 2.28 ERA in four starts this April, with a league low 3.8 hits allowed per nine innings. McLean seems like a No-Hitter waiting to happen.

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Eligibility for Rookie of the Year Award

The Rookie of the Year Award is named for Jackie Robinson, who won the first award in 1947. At that time, one award was given for the entire major leagues. Today, both the AL and NL grant a ROTY award each season.

To be eligible for the MLB Rookie of the Year Award, players must have fewer than 130 at-bats, fewer than 50 innings pitched, and fewer than 45 days on the active roster (not counting September call-up days) in a previous season or seasons.