Top 5 American League Rookie Of The Year Bets

2024 American League Rookie Of The Year Betting

As we approach the start of the 2024 MLB season, the pursuit of the American League Rookie of the Year award is already a major storyline. Through a comprehensive analysis of data provided by BetMGM, we gain valuable insights into the contenders vying for this prestigious accolade. Notably, Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday has already emerged as a frontrunner, capturing 25.1% of the tickets and an impressive 37.7% of the handle.

However, the landscape has more talented youngsters ready to make an impact. Rangers outfielders Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford most notably present formidable competition, each boasting odds of +300. There are also two other names that you should also consider placing a bet on, so be sure to take a look below and capitalize on the long odds!

2024 American League Rookie Of The Year Top Picks

1. Jackson Holliday (Orioles 2B)

It remains to be seen if Holliday will win the 2nd base job right out of Spring Training, but the 20 year old is projected to be one of the most electric young contributors in the game. Last year, he slashed .323/.442/.499 with 12 home runs, 75 RBI, 113 runs scored and 154 hits (30 doubles) in 125 games across multiple minor league levels in 2023. Given the strength of Baltimore’s lineup, he should be put in plenty of productive situations that will only bolster his potential for racking up counting stats that matter. Plus, the O’s are going to be a World Series contender, so that’s another factor working in his favor. Ultimately, I think he’s going to start at the keystone out of Spring Training and become an instant factor, living up to his sky-high expectations. The public and sharps are on him, as you can see above, and it’s no real shock why that’s the case.

2. Colt Keith (Tigers 2B)

While Holliday should put up solid numbers for a quality team, he won’t have a transformative impact due to the caliber of players around him. On the other hand, Keith has the potential to completely transform Detroit’s lineup after slashing .306/.380/.552 with 27 home runs, 38 doubles and 101 RBI in 126 minor league games between AA and AAA last season. The Tigers gave the 22 year old a contract extension worth up to $82 million over the next nine years with $29 guaranteed without him taking a single Major League at-bat. He should be an everyday starter in the middle of Detroit’s lineup and if he hits something around .275 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI, he should be in contention to win the award. With 500ish at-bats incoming if he stays healthy, he should be able to rack up some solid numbers over the course of the year.

3. Evan Carter (Rangers LF)

Projected to open the season as Texas’ starting left fielder, Carter will be in contention for this award after appearing as a key member of the team’s World Series run. He slashed .300/.417/.500 in 17 postseason games with three steals and a homer with six RBI and appeared in 23 regular season games, slashing .306/.413/.645 in 23 games with five homers, 12 RBI and three steals. Notably, he hit third and fifth in the World Series, so he clearly has the trust of Bruce Bochy. I’m most interested to see how he performs over a full Major League season after he slashed .285/.410/.459 with 27 homers and 152 RBI over 246 minor league games. If he’s given the green light on the basepaths and hits in the middle of Texas’ lineup, he should be very much in contention to win this award. 

4. Wyatt Langford (Rangers LF/RF)

Will Langford start the year in the Majors? This is a very important question when it comes to winning this award since he won’t have to only compete against the field, but also his teammate Carter. While he’s lit the league on fire during Spring Training, it’s a small sample size and he was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft with only 161 at-bats under his belt in the minors last year. He did, however, slash .360/.480/.677 with 10 homers, 17 doubles, 30 RBI and 36 runs scored over 44 games between ROK, A+, AA and AAA. By all accounts, he’s going to be a star someday, but whether it’ll be in 2024 or 2025 when he’s with the Big League club is the big question mark. My guess is that he will start in AAA and quickly get called up.

5. Nolan Schanuel (Angels 1B)

Schanuel was the No. 11 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and spent just 22 games in the minors before getting called up to Los Angeles. Clearly seen as an instant-impact prospect, he profiles as an elite contact hitter, which is one of the many reasons why I like his outlook. He struck out just 10 times in 22 games in the minors (74 at-bats) before getting punched out just one time in 35 at-bats in the Majors. Not only that, but he drew 24 walks in comparison to those 11 K’s. Yes, the sample size is small, but that instant adjustment to professional pitching was incredibly impressive. Projected to hit right in front of Mike Trout in the two-spot, Schanuel should see plenty of quality pitches to hit and should remain the starting first baseman for all of 2024.

American League Rookie Of The Year History

Below is a full history of the American League Rookie of the Year award.

• 2023: Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles, SS)
• 2022: Julio Rodríguez (Seattle Mariners, OF)
• 2021: Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays, OF)
• 2020: Kyle Lewis (Seattle Mariners, OF)
• 2019: Yordan Álvarez (Houston Astros, DH/OF)
• 2018: Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels, P/DH)
• 2017: Aaron Judge (New York Yankees, OF)
• 2016: Michael Fulmer (Detroit Tigers, P)
• 2015: Carlos Correa (Houston Astros, SS)
• 2014: José Abreu (Chicago White Sox, 1B)
• 2013: Wil Myers (Tampa Bay Rays, OF)
• 2012: Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels, OF)
• 2011: Jeremy Hellickson (Tampa Bay Rays, P)
• 2010: Neftalí Feliz (Texas Rangers, P)
• 2009: Andrew Bailey (Oakland Athletics, P)
• 2008: Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays, 3B)
• 2007: Dustin Pedroia (Boston Red Sox, 2B)
• 2006: Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers, P)
• 2005: Huston Street (Oakland Athletics, P)
• 2004: Bobby Crosby (Oakland Athletics, SS)
• 2003: Ángel Berroa (Kansas City Royals, SS)
• 2002: Eric Hinske (Toronto Blue Jays, 3B)
• 2001: Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners, OF)
• 2000: Kazuhiro Sasaki (Seattle Mariners, P)
• 1999: Carlos Beltrán (Kansas City Royals, OF)
• 1998: Ben Grieve (Oakland Athletics, OF)
• 1997: Nomar Garciaparra (Boston Red Sox, SS)
• 1996: Derek Jeter (New York Yankees, SS)
• 1995: Marty Cordova (Minnesota Twins, OF)
• 1994: Bob Hamelin (Kansas City Royals, DH)
• 1993: Tim Salmon (California Angels, OF)
• 1992: Pat Listach (Milwaukee Brewers, SS)
• 1991: Chuck Knoblauch (Minnesota Twins, 2B)
• 1990: Sandy Alomar Jr. (Cleveland Indians, C)
• 1989: Gregg Olson (Baltimore Orioles, P)
• 1988: Walt Weiss (Oakland Athletics, SS)
• 1987: Mark McGwire (Oakland Athletics, 1B)
• 1986: Jose Canseco (Oakland Athletics, OF)
• 1985: Ozzie Guillén (Chicago White Sox, SS)
• 1984: Alvin Davis (Seattle Mariners, 1B)
• 1983: Ron Kittle (Chicago White Sox, OF)
• 1982: Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore Orioles, SS)
• 1981: Dave Righetti (New York Yankees, P)
• 1980: Joe Charboneau (Cleveland Indians, OF)
• 1979: John Castino (Minnesota Twins, 3B)
• 1979: Alfredo Griffin (Toronto Blue Jays, SS)
• 1978: Lou Whitaker (Detroit Tigers, 2B)
• 1977: Eddie Murray (Baltimore Orioles, DH)
• 1976: Mark Fidrych (Detroit Tigers, P)
• 1975: Fred Lynn (Boston Red Sox, OF)
• 1974: Mike Hargrove (Texas Rangers, 1B)
• 1973: Al Bumbry (Baltimore Orioles, OF)
• 1972: Carlton Fisk (Boston Red Sox, C)
• 1971: Chris Chambliss (Cleveland Indians, 1B)
• 1970: Thurman Munson (New York Yankees, C)
• 1969: Lou Piniella (Kansas City Royals, OF)
• 1968: Stan Bahnsen (New York Yankees, P)
• 1967: Rod Carew (Minnesota Twins, 2B)
• 1966: Tommie Agee (Chicago White Sox, OF)
• 1965: Curt Blefary (Baltimore Orioles, OF)
• 1964: Tony Oliva (Minnesota Twins, OF)
• 1963: Gary Peters (Chicago White Sox, P)
• 1962: Tom Tresh (New York Yankees, SS)
• 1961: Don Schwall (Boston Red Sox, P)
• 1960: Ron Hansen (Baltimore Orioles, SS)
• 1959: Bob Allison (Washington Senators, OF)
• 1958: Albie Pearson (Washington Senators, OF)
• 1957: Tony Kubek (New York Yankees, SS)
• 1956: Luis Aparicio (Chicago White Sox, SS)
• 1955: Herb Score (Cleveland Indians, P)
• 1954: Bob Grim (New York Yankees, P)
• 1953: Harvey Kuenn (Detroit Tigers, SS)
• 1952: Harry Byrd (Philadelphia Athletics, P)
• 1951: Gil McDougald (New York Yankees, 3B)
• 1950: Walt Dropo (Boston Red Sox, 1B)
• 1949: Roy Sievers (St. Louis Browns, OF)

How To Bet The American League Rookie Of The Year

Betting on the American League Rookie of the Year award is always an intriguing prospect for baseball enthusiasts and bettors alike. Each season brings a fresh crop of young talent vying for recognition as the league's top rookie. Assessing the potential winners involves a blend of statistical analysis, scouting reports, and intuition. Factors such as a player's performance in the minor leagues, their impact upon joining the big league club, and their overall contribution to their team's success are pivotal in making informed betting decisions. Additionally, considering the historical tendencies of voters and the narrative surrounding each contender can provide valuable insights. Whether it's a power-hitting outfielder, a dominant pitcher, or a versatile infielder, the race for the AL Rookie of the Year is often fiercely contested, making it a compelling market for bettors seeking to capitalize on emerging talent and potential future stars in Major League Baseball.

Betting on the American League Rookie of the Year involves a mix of strategy and analysis to maximize your chances of success. Here's a guide on how to approach betting on this award:

1. Research Players: Start by researching the top rookies in the American League. Look at their performances in the minor leagues, their scouting reports, and their preseason projections. Pay attention to players who have garnered attention from analysts and scouts.
2. Consider Team Performance: A player's performance can be influenced by the overall success of their team. Consider how competitive the player's team is expected to be during the season. Rookies on playoff-contending teams may receive more attention and consideration from voters.
3. Look at Historical Trends: Review past winners of the AL Rookie of the Year award. Analyze the voting patterns and tendencies of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) members who vote for the award. Certain positions or statistical categories may carry more weight in the voting process.
4. Assess Playing Time: Playing time is crucial for rookies to make a significant impact. Look for players who are likely to receive consistent playing time throughout the season. Injuries or performance slumps can affect a rookie's chances of winning the award.
5. Analyze Statistics: Pay close attention to the statistical performance of rookies once the season begins. Look beyond traditional stats like batting average and ERA and consider advanced metrics that evaluate a player's overall contribution to their team, such as WAR (Wins Above Replacement).
6. Consider Narrative: The narrative surrounding a rookie can influence voters' decisions. A player with a compelling story, such as overcoming adversity or making a remarkable debut, may have an edge in the voting process.
7. Monitor Odds and Betting Markets: Keep track of the odds offered by sportsbooks for AL Rookie of the Year candidates. Compare odds from multiple sportsbooks to find value and identify potential sleepers or undervalued players.
8. Manage Your Bankroll: As with any form of sports betting, it's essential to manage your bankroll wisely. Set a budget for your bets and avoid chasing losses. Consider spreading your bets across multiple candidates to diversify your risk.

By combining thorough research, understanding historical trends, and staying informed about player performances and betting markets, you can develop a strategic approach to betting on the American League Rookie of the Year award.