MLB Rookie of the Year Odds & Favorites 2025: Kurtz is Riding High as Favorite

Nick Kurtz holds a commanding lead in the AL Rookie of the Year race at -5000, and he's quickly become one of MLB's best hitters.
MLB rookie of the year odds
Pictured: Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz is greeted by teammates after scoring as we look at our MLB rookie of the year odds. Photo by William Liang / Imagn.

Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz is easily cruising toward finishing atop the MLB Rookie of the Year odds in the AL, but it'll be a tight race between the top two contenders in the NL.

Kurtz is receiving -5000 betting odds while continuing to demolish baseballs, and no one is even remotely close to challenging him. But it's a different story in the NL, where Chicago Cubs hurler Cade Horton (-115) narrowly leads Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin (+130).


🔢 AL Rookie of the Year odds 2025

Live AL Rookie of the Year odds via our best MLB betting sites.


🏆 Who’s the betting favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year?

🅰️ Nick Kurtz (-5000)

We're at the point where even an injury wouldn't keep Kurtz from easily marching to taking this honor in the AL, with his best odds from BetMGM implying a 98.04% probability that he wins it.

He was already on that trajectory before erupting for four homers in a single game during July, producing one of the best hitting performances in baseball history. In fact, his output throughout that month is what propelled him to such a commanding lead in this market, as the first baseman clubbed 11 homers while producing a staggering 1.433 OPS.


🔢 NL Rookie of the Year odds 2025

Live NL Rookie of the Year odds via our best sports betting sites.


🏆 Who’s the betting favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year?

🐻 Cade Horton (-115)

Horton is shining, and he incredibly posted eight shutouts across his first 20 MLB starts. He also went a stretch of 10 straight starts without allowing more than two earned runs, which is why he's dealing at close to even money at Caesars.

The only hurdle here in a tight race with Drake Baldwin could be his innings. The Cubs are monitoring Horton's workload and pitch counts while aiming to manage him carefully down the stretch of his rookie season.


🎯 My best NL Rookie of the Year pick

🍑 Drake Baldwin (+115)

Baldwin plays a premium defensive position as a catcher, and he's bringing impressive power when not behind the plate. But he's not selling out in that regard, as Baldwin is a well-rounded hitter capable of making consistent quality contact and spraying the ball to all parts of the field.

That's why I'd be compelled to sprinkle a wager on his plus-money odds via BetMGM with his implied probability sitting at a mere 43.48%.


📈 MLB Rookie of the Year opening odds

Odds as of January 2025 via BetMGM.

American League  Odds National League Odds
Jasson Dominguez +600 Roki Sasaki +200
Coby Mayo +700 Dylan Crews +400
Jacob Wilson +700 Matt Shaw +400
Roman Anthony +700 Bubba Chandler +1100
Jackson Jobe +800 Jordan Lawlar +1400
Kristian Campbell +1100 Andrew Painter +2000
Kumar Rocker +1300 Thomas Saggese +2000
Christian Moore +1600 Tirso Ornelas +2200
Chase DeLauter +2000 Rhett Lowder +2500
Will Wagner +2000 Hye-Seong Kim +3000
Travis Bazzana +2200 Agustin Ramirez +3500
Colson Montgomery +2200 Luisangel Acuna +3500
Juan Brito +2500 Quinn Matthews +3500
Tomoyuki Sugano +2500 Caleb Durbin +3500
Trey Sweeney +2500 Dalton Rushing +4000

📜 AL Rookie of the Year betting history

Year Player Position Preseason odds
2024 Luis Gil SP N/A
2023 Gunnar Henderson SS +250
2022 Julio Rodriguez OF +400
2021 Randy Arozarena OF +350
2020 Kyle Lewis OF OFF
2019 Yordan Alvarez DH/OF +2000
2018 Shohei Ohtani DH/SP N/A
2017 Aaron Judge OF N/A
2016 Michael Fulmer SP N/A
2015 Carlos Correa SS N/A

📜 NL Rookie of the Year betting history

Year Player Position Preseason odds
2024 Paul Skenes SP +3000
2023 Corbin Carroll OF +400
2022 Michael Harris OF OFF
2021 Jonathan India 2B OFF
2020 Devin Williams RP OFF
2019 Pete Alonso 1B +600
2018 Ronald Acuna OF N/A
2017 Cody Bellinger OF N/A
2016 Corey Seager SS N/A
2015 Kris Bryant 3B/OF N/A

❓ MLB Rookie of the Year FAQs

Who are the Rookie of the Year favorites?

Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz is the runaway favorite in the AL by the MLB Rookie of the Year odds while getting -5000 betting odds, and Cade Horton (-115) and Drake Baldwin (+130) are battling in the NL.

When will the Rookie of the Year winners be announced?

The MLB Rookie of the Year Award winners last year were announced on Monday, Nov. 18. We expect the 2025 awards to be announced sometime in mid-November.

Who won the Rookie of the Year awards last year?

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil and Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes won the AL and NL Rookie of the Year Awards last year, respectively.

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