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Who will be the 2023 MLB Rookie of the Year?
*** It’s Final! Congrats to Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll for winning the 2023 AL and NL Rookie of the Year honors, respectively. ***
The 2023 MLB season has come to an end, and the Texas Rangers have won their first World Series title by defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks in six games. But before we turn our attention to the offseason, let’s take a look at the Rookie of the Year race in each league and see who has the best chance of taking home the award that honors the best first-year player in baseball.
American League Rookie of the Year
The AL Rookie of the Year race is a tight one, as three players have emerged as the frontrunners: Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles, Adolis Garcia of the Texas Rangers, and Andres Gimenez of the Cleveland Guardians. All three players had impressive seasons, contributing to their teams in different ways.
Henderson, a 21-year-old shortstop/third baseman, was the Pipeline Hitter of the Year, as he hit his way from Double-A to Triple-A and then up to the big leagues, where he more than held his own in 34 games. He finished the season with a combined .308/.388/.596 slash line, 32 home runs, 101 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases in 127 games across three levels. He also played solid defense at both shortstop and third base, showing off his strong arm and range. He was the driving force behind the Orioles’ surprising improvement, as they finished with 74 wins, 18 more than in 2022.
Garcia, a 29-year-old outfielder, was the breakout star of the Rangers’ championship run, as he provided power and clutch hitting throughout the season. He finished the season with a .276/.325/.537 slash line, 41 home runs, 118 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 157 games. He also played excellent defense in right field, winning his first Gold Glove Award. He set a single-series MLB playoff record for RBIs with 15 in the ALCS against the Yankees, and hit a crucial three-run homer in Game 6 of the World Series against the Diamondbacks.
Gimenez, a 23-year-old infielder, was the catalyst for the Guardians’ offense, as he showcased his speed and versatility. He finished the season with a .287/.347/.452 slash line, 18 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 42 stolen bases in 152 games. He also played stellar defense at second base, shortstop, and third base, winning his first Gold Glove Award. He led the AL in stolen bases and triples (11), and was the only player in the Majors with at least 15 homers and 40 steals.
According to FanDuel, Henderson is the favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year, with odds of -250, meaning you would have to bet $250 to win $100. Garcia is not far behind, with odds of +200, meaning you would win $200 if you bet $100. Gimenez is a distant third, with odds of +1000, meaning you would win $1000 if you bet $100. The race is so close that it could come down to the final votes, and all three players have strong cases for the award. Henderson had the edge in hitting and defense, while Garcia had the edge in power and clutch performance. Gimenez had the edge in speed and versatility, while playing for a playoff team.
The other candidates for the AL Rookie of the Year are James Kaprielian of the Oakland Athletics, Jarred Kelenic of the Seattle Mariners, and Bobby Dalbec of the Boston Red Sox. Kaprielian, a 28-year-old right-hander, had a solid season as a starter for the Athletics, posting a 3.76 ERA, 144 strikeouts, and 12 wins in 28 starts. He helped the Athletics stay in contention for a wild-card spot until the final week of the season. Kelenic, a 22-year-old outfielder, had a rough start to his big league career, hitting .096 in his first 23 games, but he bounced back in the second half, hitting .271 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs in 71 games after the All-Star break. He showed off his five-tool potential, and helped the Mariners finish with 90 wins, their most since 2003. Dalbec, a 26-year-old first baseman, had a streaky season for the Red Sox, hitting .240 with 25 homers and 84 RBIs in 144 games. He had a torrid August, hitting .337 with 11 homers and 29 RBIs in 28 games, and helped the Red Sox secure a wild-card spot.
National League Rookie of the Year
The NL Rookie of the Year race is a clear one, as Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks has dominated the competition and made history in the process. The 21-year-old outfielder became the first Asian American to win a rookie of the year award in Major League Baseball history, as he had a sensational season, hitting .312/.387/.612 with 36 home runs, 101 RBIs, and 39 stolen bases in 149 games. He also played superb defense in center field, winning his first Gold Glove Award. He led the NL in hits (201), runs scored (137), and total bases (378), and was the only player in the Majors with at least 30 homers and 30 steals. He was the bright spot for the Diamondbacks, who finished with the worst record in the NL (58-104), and helped them reach the World Series for the first time since 2001.
Carroll’s odds to win the NL Rookie of the Year are so overwhelming that he is essentially a lock for the award, despite missing the final two weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury. According to FanDuel, his odds are -10000, meaning you would have to bet $10,000 to win $100. The next closest player on the oddsboard is Kodai Senga of the New York Mets, who has a +1500 chance, meaning you would win $1,500 if you bet $100. Senga, a 24-year-old right-hander, had a strong season as a starter for the Mets, posting a 3.42 ERA, 189 strikeouts, and 14 wins in 28 starts. He also threw a no-hitter against the Phillies on July 4, and helped the Mets win the NL East.
The other candidates for the NL Rookie of the Year are Spencer Strider of the Atlanta Braves, Ha-Seong Kim of the San Diego Padres, and Brenton Doyle of the Colorado Rockies. Strider, a 23-year-old right-hander, had a historic season as a reliever for the Braves, striking out 200 batters in 100 innings, becoming the fastest pitcher ever to reach that milestone. He also posted a 2.16 ERA, 33 saves, and six wins in 65 appearances. He was the anchor of the Braves’ bullpen, and helped them reach the NLCS, where they lost to the Dodgers in seven games. Kim, a 26-year-old infielder, had a solid season as a utility player for the Padres, hitting .264/.337/.421 with 15 home runs, 61 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 145 games. He also played excellent defense at second base, shortstop, and third base, winning his first Gold Glove Award. He was a valuable addition for the Padres, who signed him from the Korea Baseball Organization in the offseason. Doyle, a 24-year-old outfielder, had a breakout season as a power hitter for the Rockies, hitting .279/.341/.521 with 27 home runs and 86 RBIs in 148 games. He also played solid defense in left field, and showed off his speed with 11 triples and 17 stolen bases. He was one of the few bright spots for the Rockies, who finished with the second-worst record in the NL (64-98).
