The National League Rookie of the Year race as the season approaches the midway point is uninspiring, truthfully
Perhaps the recent promotion of Pittsburgh infielder Oneil Cruz to the majors will breathe some life into the race. There doesn’t seem to be a Ronald Acuna Jr., Pete Alonso or Devin Williams in this class. The MLB odds for this award could be changing quite a bit in the second half.
Here’s a look at the leaders at the current time.
Oneil Cruz
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Age: 23
How acquired: Cruz was part of a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for reliever Tony Watson July 31, 2017.
Started the season as the favorite in the Rookie of the Year race (+325), according to the MLB betting lines. However, his chances took a bit of a hit when he began the season in the minor leagues. With no one really taking control like Seattle outfielder Julio Rodriguez has in the American League, Cruz is the current leader at the same price of +325.
Cruz had seven hits in his first six games of the season. He had a double and four RBIs in his debut. He’s now hitting just .211, four of his eight hits have gone for extra bases.
MacKenzie Gore
Team: San Diego Padres
Age: 23
How acquired: Gore was third overall selection in the 2017 draft.
Gore was sitting pretty with a 4-1 record and 1.50 ERA early in June. He was looking like the player to beat for the NL Rookie of the Year. However, Gore gave up 14 hits and 14 runs in 6⅓ innings during back-to-back starts to send his ERA in the wrong direction. However, he bounced back with five scoreless innings in his next outing.
His 4-3 record, 3.34 ERA and 65 strikeouts have him right in the thick of the race. San Diego is pushing the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West. There will be some key games for Gore to impress the voters during the race.
Gore’s tied for second according to the MLB picks, +450 in the current odds. He’s getting some extra rest in the hope of keeping his arm fresh for the second half.
Padres will give MacKenzie Gore two extra days of rest this time through rotation:
Dodgers series starters:
Thu: Musgrove
Fri: Snell
Sat: Darvish
Sun: Gore— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) June 28, 2022
Michael Harris
Team: Atlanta Braves
Age: 21
How acquired: Harris was a third-round selection in the 2019 draft.
What a great story this is becoming for this native son of Georgia. He wasn’t anywhere to be found on the Rookie of the Year pecking order coming into the season. However, he’s currently tied for second (+450).
Harris only had 13 at-bats in the first two months of the season. However, after recording six hits in the first three games of a four-game series against Colorado, it’s impossible to displace Harris.
Harris is leading all National League rookies with a .351 average, 17 runs, 12 extra-base hits and a .564 slugging percentage in the month of June.
Nolan Gorman
Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 22
How acquired: Gorman was the 19th overall pick in the 2019 draft.
Gorman did open a few eyes with a .387 average, having five of his 12 hits going for extra bases in the month of May. It’s tougher sledding for him in June, a .207 average and 30 strikeouts in 87 at-bats though with four homers and 10 RBIs during the month.
While Gorman is at +600 in the current Rookie of the Year odds after recently (higher than his original +475), teammate Brendan Donovan seems a better candidate, though he’s well back, according to the sportsbook. Donovan is hitting .307 with a .411 on-base percentage. His two home runs and two stolen bases might hurt him. He has made the “jump down” from +1800 to +1000 over the last week.
Donovan joins Arizona outfielder Alek Thomas, Pittsburgh outfielder Jack Suwinski and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki as some under-the-radar hitters to watch. They are all priced at +2000 in Rookie of the Year odds.
Spencer Strider
Team: Atlanta Braves
Age: 23
How acquired: Strider was selected in the fourth round in the 2020 draft.
Coming into the season, Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene was the pitcher receiving the biggest push as a potential Rookie of the Year candidate. Greene had the fourth-best odds at +800.
If the award consideration was simply about strikeouts, he’d still be leading the way among the pitchers, as his 92 strikeouts lead the rookies. However, he’s also is leading in another category-he’s surrendered 20 homers-and that has resulted in a 3-8 record and 5.79 ERA.
Strider, meanwhile, is sitting at +600 in the Rookie of the Year odds, 3-2 record and 3.02 ERA. He has seen time as a starter and a reliever, and like Greene, he has elite stuff on the mound. Strider has 79 strikeouts in 53⅔ innings.
With the way he’s going, perhaps he’ll be passing Gore for the honor of being the top pitching candidate in the NL Rookie of the Year race. Pittsburgh’s Roansy Contreras (2-1, 2.76 ERA) could also be under consideration.
Cincinnati’s Alexis Diaz (2-0, 2.40 ERA, 36 strikeouts in 30 innings) and Andre Pallante of St. Louis (2-3, 2.10 ERA) are other pitchers that those who bet online might want to eyeball.
