National League Rookie of the Year Best Bets, Predictions, Odds for 2025 Season

With the 2025 MLB season right around the corner, it's about time we take a look at which young talents will both receive and take advantage of a huge opportunity to capture the Rookie of the Year award in their respective leagues.

(Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)

In the National League, we'll skip over the two names atop the board to find you some intriguing longshots as we preview the MLB Futures market.

All odds via FanDuel as of March 8, 2025.

Matt Shaw NL Rookie of the Year Odds: +400

It's hard to adjust to the major leagues after coming over from Japan, and it's even tougher when you're 23. I don't think Sasaki is a bad pick to win this award, but at this price he's an easy pass.

• I'll focus instead on one of my favorite prospects in baseball, Matt Shaw.

This guy has just always hit, whether it was for the Maryland Terrapins or any one of Chicago's minor-league affiliates. He's incredible at making contact, which should help him rise above many volatile prospects in this market, but he's got more power than he gets credit for and has drawn comparisons to Dustin Pedroia.

You just can't deny that this guy puts the ball in play -- and hits it hard -- when you watch him. The Cubs seem so sure of his ability that there's little question he'll be their third baseman this year -- and they even traded away Isaac Paredes to open up a spot for him.

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Receiving consistent playing time can be rare for a rookie, which is why this market can be skewed in the odds, but if you're going to take one of those few this year I think you want to take the proven hitter who should be in the middle of an excellent lineup.

Catch all the latest updates and tips before placing your bets in our betting news section.

Jordan Lawlar NL Rookie of the Year Odds: +1100

Jordan Lawlar is just 22, but he was already ticketed for a big-league job at a young age with his debut coming at the end of the 2023 season. He fell victim to yet another injury in 2024, but now he's healthy and hitting this spring for the Diamondbacks.

• The team clearly wants him to fill the shortstop position as quickly as possible with Geraldo Perdomo still manning that spot and a rotating cast of middling players getting time here last year, and with his ability and recent clean bill of health he should do so very soon.

That's what makes this number rather puzzling -- sure, he's not virtually locked into a job like Shaw, but he should play the majority of the season and arguably has more talent. He managed to make it through the Dominican Winter League healthy, and sported an acceptable .670 OPS, and he has the potential to go 20-20 right out of the gate with his elite speed and power.

There's a ton to like here, and with close proximity to the bigs he may be my favorite bet.

Agustin Ramirez NL Rookie of the Year Odds: +4000

The New York Yankees have had a hard time convincing rival GMs that any of their hitting prospects are worth trading for, but Agustin Ramirez was so good last season that they were able to successfully pull off at least one deal -- sending him to Miami for Jazz Chisholm.

• The Marlins currently have two pretty brutal offensive catchers manning the position right now along with post-hype prospect flop Matt Mervis at first base, meaning Ramirez should force his way to the big leagues rather quickly if he keeps hitting.

There's little reason to believe he can't, hitting a whopping 25 home runs across 126 minor-league games last season and turning around his luck at Triple-A with an .805 OPS in 39 games for the Marlins' affiliate.

This guy just absolutely rakes, and if things break right with his competitors in this market he could easily be a surprise winner.

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