2026 MLB Rookie of the Year Odds: Best AL and NL Futures Bet

And we conclude awards week with a look at the Rookie of the Year award market.

Unlike Cy Young and MVP, there is no overwhelming favorite here, but NL top candidate Konnor Griffin at +280 has a similar price tag to AL MVP’s Aaron Judge.

It’s hard to argue that he should command those numbers. Yes, the Pirates SS looks like a generational prospect. It’s just that he’s not even 20 yet, has all 98 PAs above A-ball, the Pirates are kind of cheap, and he’s not a lock to make the Opening Day roster. I’ll pass on Griffin and dig into the others.

Kevin McGonigle (½ unit, +900 BetMGM)

It’s a similar dilemma to Griffin’s.

McGonigle is almost a prospect, but he might not make the Opening Day roster. But you get a much better deal here at +900, and McGonigle is a year and a half older than Griffin and has more experience. He recorded 206 PAs in AA and advanced to the Arizona Fall League, where he won MVP. Also, the Tigers are winning it all this season. McGonigle’s bat is ready, as he posted a whopping 182 wRC+ at both minor league levels last year. The question is whether his glove can handle SS in the major leagues or even at third base. If the Tigers think it’s possible, they won’t stop him because Zach McKinstry is a good player who profiles better at super utility anyway.

Samuel Vassallo (½ unit, +1000 everywhere)

It’s a bit of a leap of faith here, as Basallo is projected as a strong side platoon bat with some time sharing with Adley Rutchman at catcher and Tyler O’Neil at DH. But this is very similar to how Drake Baldwin won NL ROY as a starter last season. And Basallo is a better hitter, as he hit .270/.377/.589 as a 20-year-old in AAA and hit 23 home runs in 321 PA. He got 118 PAs with the Orioles and hit just .165, but his 4 home runs and 8.9% barrel % were encouraging for a young player in his first turn in the league.

JJ Wetherholt (½ unit, +500 BetRivers)

Another prospect, but the upside here is that Wetherholt is virtually a lock to make the Cardinals opening day roster. After the winter sale, Wetherholt essentially held all of 2B. The natural SS had a 154 wRC+ across AA and AAA last year, with 17 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 496 PA.

His batting skills are at an elite level with a BB% of 14.5% and a K% of 14.7%. He’s not as good a hitting prospect as Griffin (or McGonigle), but he’s still good and could rack up impressive overall counting statistics even on a bad Cardinals team.

Sal Stewart (½ unit, +1100 DraftKings)

The Reds 1B got the call in late 2025 and logged 58 PAs, posting a wOBA of .355 with five home runs. His EV was elite 95.4. Yes, he only had 58 PAs, but he was 21 years old when he made his MLB debut. The Reds lineup looks a little crowded at the 1B-3B-DH spot, but Stewart has already profiled as the team’s third-best hitter and could probably play some 2B as well. I like this as a higher odds play.