AL Rookie of the Year Betting: Gunnar Henderson Pulls Ahead, But Triston Casas Has Joined the Chat
![AL Rookie of the Year Betting: Gunnar Henderson Pulls Ahead, But Triston Casas Has Joined the Chat](https://fanduel.com/research/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fpbwem9y5%2Fch_production%2F94eab33df12035784461b8684da40dd32775fc1e-5090x3394.jpg%3Frect%3D0%2C124%2C5090%2C2519%26w%3D964%26h%3D477&w=1920&q=100)
As we approach the 75% tentpole of the 2023 MLB calendar, the American League Rookie of the Year pursuit has been one of the tightest markets throughout the length of the season.
At the All-Star break, the AL ROY contention stood especially narrow; Texas Rangers infielder Josh Jung was the frontrunner at FanDuel Sportsbook, but he recently underwent sugery after fracturing his left thumb on a line drive that Jung actually turned into a double-play. We likely won't see him again until the postseason.
Gunnar Henderson and Masataka Yoshida were the other two AL first-years seen as ROY perennials entering the Midsummer Classic. Fast-forward to now, and Henderson has surged to the top of the odds boards. The Baltimore Orioles should have a bright spot on the left side of the infield with Henderson for many seasons to come.
Yoshida is still very much in the running; he currently shows the third-best odds in the market, but a Boston Red Sox teammate of his has emerged as a more likely candidate to catch Henderson -- first baseman Triston Casas.
With approximately 40 games left to play in the regular season, let us survery the field of authentic AL Rookie of the Year hopefuls. Keep in mind that the final quarter of the baseball schedule is when legends are made.
All MLB odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Gunnar Henderson, SS/3B, Orioles
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: -155
As noted, Henderson has been a dynamic infielder for Baltimore in 2023. Offering quality defensive flexibility, he has logged 58 games this year at third baseball with 48 more at shortstop. When you see Henderson zip the baseball across the diamond, you immediately understand why he is a natural fit at either spot.
Offensively, Henderson displays the prototypical "pretty" left-handed swing. It has led him to excel at producing runs in the current campaign, compiling 74 RBI thus far -- second-most among AL rookies. Henderson's 75 runs scored and 63 walks drawn also rank second in the class. The fact that he is slugging at .455 right now also doesn't hurt his chances.
Over the All-Star break, Henderson showed +290 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook to be named 2023 AL ROY. On the 18th day of August, those odds have plummeted down to -155. It makes sense to know that Henderson has received more tickets in the market than any other player at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Triston Casas, 1B, Red Sox
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +360
After a pedestrian first half, Casas has burst into the American League ROY conversation over the past six weeks. Keep in mind that he had +20000 at FanDuel to win the award was recently as July 12th.
Over the 30 games since the break, Casas has had a burgeoning 1.154 OPS. Like Henderson, Casas is an explosive left-handed bat in a deep AL East lineup, reaping the benefits.
For the BoSox, Casas has been one of the best on-base guys. His wOBA is .362 at the moment, which is quite impressive -- rookie or not. Naturally, that number is aided by Casas' proficient ability to draw bases on balls; he currently leads all MLB rookies with 74 walks.
Showing +360 odds in this market now, Casas would need to continue hammering the baseball to come away with the award, but it is not at all out of the realm of possibility. To date, Casas has yielded the fifth-most bets for 2023 AL ROY of any player. Can he go from hot to scorching and become the first American League first baseman to win the award since Jose Abreu in 2014?
Masataka Yoshida, OF/DH, Red Sox
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +420
Transparently, Yoshida has been in the Rookie of the Year running for most of the season compared to his teammate Casas. Consistency has actually been one of Yoshida's best attributes in 2023; he is the only rookie with more than 150 plate appearances that is hitting .300 or better heading into August 18th.
With a career OPS of .822 through 106 games, Yoshida has potential to have a lengthy, bountiful tenure in MLB despite having just turned 30 years old. He plays the game with a well-rounded approach. Considering the Red Sox are only 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot, perhaps an increase in power numbers from Yoshida would both catapult Boston into the postseason, incidentally raising his ROY stock.
Intriguingly, Yoshida has yielded the largest share of the total market handle at FanDuel Sportsbook. His AL Rookie of the Year odds have inflated slightly since the All-Star break, swelling from +290 to +420 today. If you think he can definitively outperform his teammate Casas down the stretch to help the Red Sox reach the playoffs, right now would be the time to buy (back) in on Yoshida.
Either way, both Casas and Yoshida have a shot to be Boston's first Rookie of the Year since Dustin Pedroia in 2007.
Looking to build some MLB DFS lineups? Check out FanDuel’s daily fantasy baseball lobby to see all the offerings for today’s slates.
The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.