AL Rookie of The Year Odds: Orioles Gunnar Henderson Atop the Board
Former Japanese star Yoshida in Line for Big Role With Boston

Following his impressive debut last September, Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson enters 2023 with the highest American League Rookie of the Year odds on the board at+250. He’s far from a runaway pick though, as Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida is slated for an everyday role in Boston’s lineup after signing a $90 million deal with the Red Sox this offseason.
Let’s take a closer look at the AL Rookie of the Year race in our odds preview.
THE FAVORITES
Gunnar Henderson, Orioles (+250)
It’s no wonder Henderson, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 prospect, headlines the AL Rookie of the Year odds. He tore up Double-A and Triple-A pitching and then contributed during a brief cameo with Baltimore last season.
The 21-year-old debuted Aug. 31 and proceeded to slash .259/.348/.440 with four home runs in 34 games.
He’ll be in Baltimore’s lineup on Opening Day and should be a fixture in the American League for years to come.
Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox (+550)
The 29-year-old outfielder from Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan signed a 5-year, $90 million contract with Boston this offseason. Yoshida batted .336 last season in Japan and made a lot of quality contact, with just 307 strikeouts in 3,251 career plate appearances.
His premier bat-to-ball skills and ability to spray the ball to all fields could play well in Fenway Park’s spacious outfield. He drove in a record 13 runs for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
Hunter Brown, Astros (+750)
After registering a 2.55 ERA and 11.4 K/9 innings in Triple-A, Brown allowed only two runs over 20.1 innings (two starts) as a September call-up and was scoreless across three appearances in the postseason. The 24-year-old was poised to open the season as the Astros‘ fifth starter before being sidelined with lower back tightness.
Anthony Volpe, Yankees (+900)
The 21-year-old Volpe won the Yankees‘ shortstop competition this spring, beating veteran holdover Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and rookie Oswald Peraza, after hitting .314 with three home runs and a .417 on-base percentage over 17 games.
Last year, Volpe slashed .249/.342/.460 across 596 plate appearances in Double-A and Triple-A and became the first minor leaguer with 20 homers and 50 stolen bases in a season since Andruw Jones in 1995. He has the potential for big American League player stats.
Triston Casas, Red Sox (+1000)
Casas hit just .197 in 76 at-bats last September but displayed other qualities that made him a first-round pick in 2018. He slugged five home runs and drew 19 walks while getting on base at a .358 clip. The 6-foot-4, 252-pound Casas also has a strong glove and should see plenty of time at first base after making Boston’s Opening Day roster.
At+1000, Casas has the same AL Rookie of the Year odds as Twins shortstop Royce Lewis, who is on the 60-day IL while recovering from knee surgery, and Orioles pitcher Grayson Rodriguez.
DARK HORSE CANDIDATES (+2000 or longer)
Kyle Muller, Athletics (+2500)
Acquired this offseason in the trade that sent star catcher Sean Murphy, to Atlanta. The 6-7 southpaw will start Opening Day against the Angels. Muller has some Major League experience, with a 5.14 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 49 innings between 2021 and 2022 as a Brave.
He’s struggled this spring, pitching to a 5.65 ERA across 14.1 innings, but Oakland obviously saw enough to hand him a prominent role.
Bo Naylor, Guardians (+2500)
Naylor hit .263/.392/.496 with 21 homers and 20 stolen bases across Double-A and Triple-A last season. While his power/speed combination is tantalizing, Naylor — Baseball America’s 68th-best prospect and the younger brother of Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor — figures to start the 2023 campaign back in Triple-A to fine-tune his catching. Should Mike Zunino struggle in Cleveland, Naylor could be in line for a call-up.
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