2026 Rookie of the Year Odds: I Heard You Paint Corners

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We’re only a few days out from Opening Day, and we’re starting to get a look at what the final rosters may be.

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Some players are shockingly starting the year in Triple-A, while others have been given the good news that they’ll be headed north with the big-league club.

I’m poring over the MLB odds board for AL and NL Rookie of the Year below as Opening Day gets closer and closer.

Odds to win 2026 AL Rookie of the Year

Odds from DraftKings, one of our best betting sites. Sign up with our DraftKings promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.

Odds as of 3-22. 

Odds to win 2026 NL Rookie of the Year

Odds as of 3-22.

MLB Rookie of the Year futures bets

Teams are making cuts and announcing final rosters as Opening Day approaches. It’s easy to overreact to these announcements, and either put too much stock in someone breaking camp or discounting someone too far for not.

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Konnor Griffin will not be on the Pittsburgh Pirates, not at first, anyway. Neither will Jhostnyxon Garcia, which is absurd based on his spring and how desperate the Pirates are for offense. But still, Griffin’s odds have only moved to +310 while Garcia’s haven’t moved off +4000. It’ll take a prolonged stint in Triple-A and a considerable move in the odds for me to back Griffin at this rate.

While I’m not updating my betting card immediately, there are two other NL players I’m keeping tabs on who will play in big-league games this coming week.

The Philadelphia Phillies will open the season with not one, but two high-profile rookies on the roster, presumably in starting roles.

First, outfielder Justin Crawford will be the team’s everyday center fielder. He’s still +2000, and while the hit tool is certainly there, the power is potentially lacking. Nevertheless, he’s polished and spent the entire 2025 season at Triple-A, batting .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs and 46 stolen bases as a 21-year-old.

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I very nearly put a small wager on Andrew Painter, who will be in the rotation with Zack Wheeler on the shelf. If he pitches well enough, there’s no reason why he can’t usurp Taijuan Walker in the pecking order. This is probably the time to bet on him at +3000, so if you’re bullish on the 22-year-old from before his 2023 Tommy John surgery, take the plunge.

Previous ROY picks thread

3/11: Benge

Carson Benge screamed through the minors in 2025, slashing .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases in 116 games across three levels. Even with a hiccup in Triple-A, I’m not deterred. He struck out just 17.7% of the time compared to a 13.1% walk rate while boasting a 150 wRC+. He basically looks like the next Kyle Tucker.

2/25: Chandler + DeLauter

Bubba Chandler wasn’t as highly touted as Skenes, but he wasn’t super far off, either. He posted a 1.83 ERA over his first 39 1/3 innings at Triple-A in 2024. Those numbers took a bit of a dive last season, but his first taste of MLB hitting went pretty well. The 4.02 ERA wasn’t amazing, but he had a low walk rate, didn’t surrender home runs, and had a 2.66 FIP that suggests at least some positive regression. With Griffin taking all the headlines at Pittsburgh Pirates camp, it’s perhaps easy to forget that Chandler likely has a rotation spot on Opening Day unless things go all the way sideways this spring. His ace upside is enough to take a flier here.

Chase DeLauter is currently projected to open the season in the Cleveland Guardians outfield. Injuries have slowed his progression a bit, but he is a dangerous hitter, which is exactly what Cleveland needs. He doesn’t strike out (15.8% K-rate in 42 minor-league games last year) and has major home run potential from the left side.

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Past Rookie of the Year winners

Previous AL RoY winners

Although all players have an equal chance of winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award, the honor has been claimed disproportionately by outfielders since its inception in 1949. Outfielders have 24 victories compared to 17 for pitchers and 17 for shortstops. Catchers are bringing up the rear with just two ROY victories over the past 73 years.

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Previous NL RoY winners

No franchise has won more Rookie of the Year awards than the Dodgers. “The Blue Crew” have claimed 18 RoY trophies dating back to the club’s early days in Brooklyn.

However, unlike the AL — where the West has been the recent home of the top rookies — the NL East has housed six of the last 13 RoYs, with a mix of outfielders, infielders, starting pitchers, a catcher, and even a reliever.

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