MLB futures: Who will challenge the betting favorite in NL ROY race?
It's not a huge surprise that Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the early betting favorite at DraftKings to win National League Rookie of the Year in 2024.
In addition to being on a team that is a betting favorite in almost every category, the 25-year-old right-hander registered a 1.21 ERA and 169 strikeouts through 23 games played in the Japan Pacific League last year. With a resume like that, DK has tapped Yamamoto as the +175 favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year this season.
However, Yamamoto's spring training outings for the Los Angeles Dodgers have been rough, to say the least. He accumulated an 8.38 ERA with nine earned runs through three starts, and his 15 strikeouts were somewhat neutralized by the 14 hits he gave up. While there's plenty of time to right the ship, you may want to consider other NL ROY candidates to put your money on.
Here are a few you should check out before you place your bets.
The second favorite in the NL ROY odds is Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee, who is priced at +400 at DK. There was speculation that Lee wouldn't be able to replicate his plate appearances from the KBO League, where he slashed .318/.406/.455 with six HR, 45 RBI and six stolen bases on 105 hits. But the transition is going quite well, as the 25-year-old demonstrated when he hit his first home run in spring training. While comparing Yamamoto and Lee may seem like apples and oranges since one is a starting pitcher and the other will play more regularly, Lee is still a well-priced betting favorite for NL ROY heading into Opening Day — and those odds will certainly shorten if he is regularly productive at the top of San Francisco's batting order.
Next up on DK's list is Jackson Chourio, who is priced at +700. The Milwaukee Brewers top prospect solidified a spot in the Opening Day roster and is projected to be a big bat at the bottom of the batting lineup after slashing .282/.338/.467 with 22 home runs in the minors in 2023. He only had 14 hits with no home runs, three RBI and 11 strikeouts in 49 spring training at-bats, which doesn't speak much to his ROY campaign. The skill set to become Milwaukee's regular starting centerfielder is still pretty enticing though, so perhaps it's better to wait until the 2024 MLB season gets underway before wagering on him.
Padres prospect Jackson Merrill is listed at +1000 (10-1) in the latest NL ROY odds and is worth keeping an eye on after San Diego recalled him ahead of their big opening series against the Dodgers in Seoul. Merrill had the best spring training of any rookie we are highlighting, slashing an astounding .351/.400/.995 with two homers and three doubles in 40 plate appearances. MLB.com notes that the Padres have enough big bats in their lineup that they won't need Merrill to be a consistent juggernaut in his first season of big league ball. However, between his impressive spring training numbers and the void he fills for San Diego in centerfield, Merrill is a worthy bet at 10-1 odds to win NL ROY.
There are high expectations for all rookies heading into the 2024 MLB season, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is no exception as he gets ready for this first big league season with the Dodgers. And as far as NL Rookie of the Year candidates go, he's certainly worthy of being one of the favorites.
Before you place your bet, however, you should take a look at these favorites challenging him for NL ROY honors.
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