Julio Rodriguez Is Running Away With AL ROY

Seattle Mariners rookie outfielder Julio Rodriguez has been one of the better players in baseball this season, and you might not even know who he is. That could be for a couple of reasons, starting with the fact that he is a rookie and just 21 years old. He plays in Seattle on the West coast, where a majority of people won't see him play when their games start after 10pm on the Eastern seaboard.

The Mariners also are simply not a very good baseball team overall. Still, the oddsmakers don't miss, and they know he is absolutely running away with the AL ROY award right now. BetMGM has Rodriguez listed as a gigantic-275 favorite to win the award. No one right now even comes close to him on the board, but he has made a great case as to why. The red-hot outfielder is in the middle of a home run fiesta, having a knock in four of his last six games as of this writing. Rodriguez has hit safely in 10 straight starts, and he's hit to the tune of a .300/.356/.850 slash line with nine extra-base hits and 10 RBI across his last 11 contests. On the season, he is hitting .243 with 15 home runs and 43 RBI.

He's simply been unstoppable, so can anyone catch up with the phenom?

The answer is clearly yes, as rookies tend to go through hot streaks, but also can get ice cold in a hurry. There are two guys that are within range of catching up to Rodriguez, but it will take a cold streak from him and some really great play by them to even the odds. Houston Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena is the closest, listed at +600 right now at BetMGM to win AL ROY. He's been great since returning from an injury, hitting safely in seven of eight games and going hitting .270 in that span. He's been a good, every day player for the Astros, slashing .276/.327/.482 with 12 homers, 31 RBI, 36 runs scored and six stolen bases through 62 contests.

A long shot at this point, but still a guy with a pulse, is Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who is currently listed at +900. Witt is batting just .236 this season, but he does have 12 homers and 42 RBI, as well as 43 runs scored.

As with all rookies, Rodriguez could go cold and someone can catch up to him, but right now that seems like an impossibility. He's been so good, and no one comes close to his numbers. Pena is the only one I would consider here at +600, especially if he makes contributions down the stretch for a playoff-bound Houston team.