2023 MLB Rookie of the Year Odds: Carroll Holds On in NL Race
Will Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz Play Enough Games to Steal NL ROY Award?
Corbin Carroll got a head start for this year’s NL Rookie of the Year race after playing 32 games last season. However, that didn’t disqualify him from being a rookie this season. Carroll has played 86 games as a true rookie this year and is batting nearly .290.
At the start of the MLB season, Carroll had almost been a lock to win the NL Rookie of the Year award until the Reds called up Elly De La Cruz on June 6. Today, the race is a bit closer than anyone could’ve anticipated.
Will Elly De La Cruz Steal the NL Rookie of the Year from Corbin Carroll?
At the All-Star break, the 2023 MLB Rookie of the Year odds have Corbin Carroll at -360 and Elly De La Cruz at +280 to win the NL Rookie of the Year award. Both rookies have helped their teams in the MLB standings. Carroll has hit a .289 average with 18 home runs and 48 RBIs. The left-handed slugger is currently hitting an OPS of .915 and has a WAR of 3.8.
On the other hand, Elly De La Cruz is hitting a .325 average with four home runs and 16 RBIs since June 6. He’s only played 30 games this year. So that’s one reason he might not win the award. However, since being called up, De La Cruz has helped push the Reds to the top of the NL Central at the All-Star Break. He’s earned 16 stolen bases and has been incredibly electric as a five-tool player. But he might need more power numbers before we consider De La Cruz the NL Rookie of the Year.
If one team stands out more than the other in the second half of the season, that could help voters decide who will win the NL Rookie of the Year. Carroll and the Diamondbacks are currently sitting at 52-39 on the year and have a higher probability of earning an MLB World Series. On the other hand, the Reds are extremely young with a lot of talent and are sitting at 50-41 on the season.
The positions of each team in the standings at the end of the year could help decide who will win the NL Rookie of the Year race.
Don’t Forget About the American League Rookie of the Year Race!
MLB fans love what Carroll and De La Cruz have done. But there’s an even tighter race in the American League for its Rookie of the Year.
The 2023 MLB Rookie of the Year odds in the American League have three players sitting at +290 or lower odds to win the award. Josh Jung of the Rangers is at the top of the list at +135. But he’s got Masataka Yoshida of the Red Sox and Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles breathing down his neck.
Yoshida and Henderson are each +290 to win the AL Rookie of the Year award. But neither of them are All-Star starters like Jung.
It’s Jung’s Race to Lose
Jung is hitting .280 with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Rangers this season. The rookie third baseman even started in the MLB All-Star game for the American League this season. However, the Rangers haven’t been playing their best baseball before the All-Star break. If that continues, Yoshida or Henderson could take over the top spot.
Yoshida doesn’t have the home runs or RBIs that Jung has. But he’s hitting .316 and still has ten home runs and an OPS of .874. His power will likely have to increase if he wants a shot at the AL Rookie of the Year. However, he’s only struck out 36 times in 301 at-bats, which is pretty sensational.
Finally, Gunnar Henderson has an OPS of .797 with a WAR of 2.3. But he’s only hitting .246 for the Orioles this season. Unless he continues to hit home runs at a high rate in the second half, it’s unlikely that Henderson can jump Yoshida and Jung for the AL Rookie of the Year honors. None of the voters will select a guy hitting .245 over two guys hitting .280 or better to win the award.
The Odds Leaders Are in Great Shape
The Diamondbacks are 52-39 and have a better record than the Los Angeles Dodgers through the first half of the season. Corbin Carroll has helped change the culture and perception of the Diamondbacks.
Carroll was an MLB All-Star starter for the National League this season and has been everything Arizona hoped he would be. Just look at the MLB team stats and tell me you’re not surprised by Arizona’s first half of the season!
On the other hand, Josh Jung has also helped push the Texas Rangers to 52-39 this season. Jung already has a 2.7 WAR through 88 games this season and is on pace for at least 35 home runs in his rookie season.
At this rate, Carroll and Jung will likely stay favorites and win their respective Rookie of the Year awards.
For MLB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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