Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
AL Rookie of the Year Odds - Outright Winner
McGonigle is the clear favorite at MLB betting sites. But it’s early in the year, and Travis Bazzana and Munetaka Murakami, who both sit at +598 odds, have a shot at claiming the AL Rookie of the Year if they can get hot.
Kevin McGonigle (-152)
The Tigers made a massive commitment to McGonigle when they signed him to an eight-year, $150 million extension at the start of the season, and he’s proving his worth every single week. The 21-year-old is hitting .277 so far with four home runs and 24 RBIs. McGonigle’s plate discipline is phenomenal, evident by more walks (42) than strikeouts (40). The Pennsylvania native is also a top-notch shortstop. McGonigle may be young, but he’s a big reason Detroit is still in the mix for the Wild Card, and if they do make the playoffs, it’ll only help his AL ROTY case.
Travis Bazzana (+598)
The Cleveland Guardians’ first overall pick from the 2024 draft didn’t take long to make it to the big leagues, and he’s now a regular at second base for the Guards. The Australian-born rookie has played in 41 games in 2026, hitting .252 with four long balls and 17 RBIs. There’s been some growing pains offensively at times, but Bazzana is still a special player, and he’s yet to reach his full potential at the big league level. That being said, Bazzana will really need to pick it up if he’s going to give McGonigle a run for his money for the AL Rookie of the Year.
Munetaka Murakami (+598)
Murakami may be one of the oldest rookies on this list at 26 years of age, but he’s made a real statement in his first MLB season after coming over from Japan. The Chicago White Sox slugger is fourth in the Majors in home runs with 20, and he’s had some torrid stretches this season. Murakami also has a respectable .240 average, and he’s hitting .280 over the last month. However, Murakami is currently on the 10-day IL with a hamstring injury, and an extended absence would hurt his AL ROTY case.
Samuel Basallo (+697)
While Adley Rutschman is the obvious No. 1 behind the dish for the Baltimore Orioles, they also have another terrific catching prospect in Samuel Basallo. He’s hitting the baseball incredibly hard, ranking in the 85th percentile in hard hit rate. The rookie is also batting .258 with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs. Basallo has also started 21 games at DH when Rutschman is behind the plate because the Orioles know just how important the Dominican's bat is. Although Basallo is struggling so far in June, he was red-hot in May, hitting .338.
AL Rookie of the Year Futures Picks
McGonigle is the favorite for a reason. He’s an elite player on both sides of the ball, and his baseball IQ for a 21-year-old is off the charts. McGonigle is my top pick for ROTY, but there is still enough season left that I'm also willing to take a flier on Basallo at +697.
Picks: Kevin McGonigle (-152), Samuel Basallo (+697)/TonyBet
