2023 MLB Rookies: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?

There were a number of youngsters expected to be one of the better 2023 MLB rookies and many of them are living up to the hype. Especially in the National League, where the three preseason favorites are off to fast starts. That’s not the case in the American League. AL Rookie of the Year favorite Gunnar Henderson is just 2 for 12. But it’s still early in the season and the MLB standings will change drastically. One big game could change a player’s stat line quite a bit in the early going.

Hot National League Rookies

Jordan Walker (St. Louis Cardinals)

Walker was the preseason NL Rookie of the Year favorite. He hasn’t done anything to hurt his odds, going 5 for 16 (.313) with 3 RBI. He’s made good contact, fanning just once in his 16 at bats.

Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Carroll was the second betting choice among National League rookies and is hitting .300 and has stolen three bases. He leads all rookies with six hits.

Miguel Vargas (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Vargas was No. 3 in the preseason odds and is 3 for 8 (.375) but has walked an amazing nine times. That gives him an on-base percentage of .722, ranking him No. 1 in all of MLB for players with more than five plate appearances.

Spencer Steer (Cincinnati Reds)

Steer was a bit of a longshot among 2023 MLB rookies but is off to a strong start. He’s hit .333 and has an on-base percentage of .500 through the Reds‘ first four games of the season.

Brice Turang (Milwaukee Brewers)

Turang received a little attention in the NL Rookie of the Year odds but he’s outplayed them. Through Milwaukee‘s first four games, Turang is hitting .500 and knocked in five runs. With three walks, his on-base percentage is .615.

Cold National League Rookies

Ezequiel Tovar (Colorado Rockies)

Tovar was No. 4 in the preseason betting but he’s just 2 for 15 (.133) with six strikeouts. It’s too early to give up on him now, but he does need to start making contact better.

Miles Mastrobuoni (Chicago Cubs)

Mastrobuoni didn’t get a whole lot of attention outside of Chicago after coming over from Tampa Bay in a trade. So far, there’s a good reason for that. Mastrobuoni is 0 for 6 with three strikeouts in six games. The Cubs traded for him for a reason, so it’s a bit early to give up on him. Still, he’s a 27-year-old rookie for a reason.

Hot American League Rookies

Conner Capel (Oakland A’s)

Capel didn’t get much ink in the AL Rookie of the Year race. It’s been feast or famine for the Oakland outfielder so far. He has three hits in eight at bats but has also fanned four times. If he doesn’t start making contact the batting average will drop quickly.

Masataka Yoshida (Boston Red Sox)

Big things were expected from Yashida and he hasn’t disappointed. Through five games he’s hitting .294 with 5 RBI. He began the season second in the AL Rookie of the Year odds. But his career in Japan shows he can post some solid mlb stats over the course of a season.

Oscar Colas (Chicago White Sox)

Colas received a bit of attention in the preseason. He’s batting .294 through the first five games of the season. He hasn’t shown much power yet but it’s still early.

Logan O’Hoppe (Los Angeles Angels)

O’Hoppe leads all rookies with 6 RBI through the Angels‘ first four games. He’s a good-hitting catcher, which is becoming harder to find these days. He’s still +2000 to win the AL Rookie of the Year.

Cold American League Rookies

Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles)

The AL Rookie of the Year favorite Gunnar Henderson is off to a slow start. Through four games he’s hitting just .167 with a solo home run to his credit. He’s struck out six times in 12 at bats but has also walked six times. His on-base percentage of .444 is one of the better ones among 2023 MLB rookies. But hits, no walks, are what will win awards.

Anthony Volpe (New York Yankees)

Volpe is another player a lot was expected from. But so far it’s been a bit of a battle, as he has two hits in 11 at bats. He’s fanned three times but has drawn four walks, giving him an on-base percentage of .400. He does have three stolen bases already, which ties him for the lead among 2023 MLB rookies.

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