AL ROY Odds: Rangers’ Jung Steals Top Spot from Red Sox’s Yoshida

The American League is stacked with young potential stars, and they’re already making their names known in the Rookie of the Year race. SportsGrid has your updated odds.

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid and our daily MLB picks. 

1. Josh Jung +220 (Last week: +260)

The biggest power threat on this list is Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung. He’s helped give the team more length in their batting order and has been a key contributor in helping them get off to this great start, where they sit on top of the AL West. 

Jung added a pair of home runs over the last week to up his rookie total from 13 to 15, in addition to having driven in 44 runs. Jung boasts a high-end .848 OPS, leading to him taking over as the odds-on favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year after getting bet down from +260 to +220 over the last week. 

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2. Masataka Yoshida +250 (Last week: +210)

If you’re looking for a difference maker that’s stepped into the Boston Red Sox lineup and hasn’t missed a beat, look no further than Masataka Yoshida. He’s older than most players in the mix at 29 but is still considered a rookie after coming over from Japan in 2023 and signing with the Red Sox. 

Yoshida has continued to be a productive member of the Red Sox, but that hasn’t stopped other players from entering the conversation. The breakout star didn’t get leapfrogged because he’s been struggling but because other players are being more impactful at the moment and staking their claim. Yoshida saw a slight odds dip over the last week from +210 to +250, where he sits with the second-shortest odds. 

3. Gunnar Henderson +400 (Last week: +850)

One of the top prospects in MLB made his debut in September last season, and you’re starting to see him emerge as a real threat to win AL Rookie of the Year. Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson is putting together an outstanding campaign and has been very strong over the last month. 

Henderson has continued to be an integral part of the O’s young core, and he’s really inserted his presence into the ROY conversation over the last month. The 21-year-old has mashed ten home runs, in addition to 26 RBI and a .793 OPS. The race has become much tighter over the last week, and Henderson’s play is a big reason why, leading to his odds going from +850 to +400 over that span. 

4. Hunter Brown +750 (Last week: +600)

The Houston Astros have done a tremendous job producing quality starting pitching over the years. Hunter Brown has been no different in 2023, and he’s demonstrating powerful stuff for the club in their pursuit of winning back-to-back World Series. 

There’s simply a lot to like about the pitch mix that Brown brings to the table, and he’s really been able to give the Astros even more depth in their rotation. Brown has posted a 6-4 record, along with a 3.78 ERA and 90 strikeouts. He’s really struggled in two of his last five starts, though, leading to his odds of winning the AL ROY dropping slightly from +600 to +750. 

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5. Taj Bradley +3000 (Last week: Unranked in Top Five) 

The Tampa Bay Rays are often considered a pitching factory, and that notion has again been held in 2023. Tampa Bay has once again produced another high-end young talent on the mound, with Taj Bradley emerging back into the top five candidates to win AL ROY. 

The Rays’ right-hander hasn’t posted elite numbers this season, but that’s rare for a young arm to do. Bradley has compiled a 4-3 record, paired with a 4.19 ERA and 63 punchouts. He’s tallied 63 strikeouts in just 43 innings pitched, highlighting his swing-and-miss stuff. Bradley now sits at +3000. 

Top 5 AL ROY Odds on FanDuel Sportsbook.