Get to Know These Rookies Before MLB Spring Training Begins: Stats, Projections, Odds

Between service time questions, players joining from other professional leagues, and the minor-league system itself, it can be a daunting task to try to keep up with the newest crop of MLB rookies. That's exactly why we're focusing on nine MLB rookies to know before spring training 2026, with a preview of their award odds, projected stats, and team outlook.

You won't see MLB Rookie of the Year odds favorites Trey Yesavage or Nolan McLean here, as I'm sure most fans are at least somewhat familiar with them. We're taking a look at the lesser-known contenders, but absolutely don't sleep on these rookies.

⚾ American League 

💣 Munetaka Murakami - 1B, Chicago White Sox

Rookie of the Year odds: +425 via DraftKings

Munetaka Murakami is set to give Chicago White Sox fans something to cheer about after the team traded Luis Robert to the Mets this offseason. Murakami joins teammate Colson Montgomery to form a duo with a ton of power - albeit with plenty of swing-and-miss in their profiles, too.

The new first baseman for the White Sox hit 22 homers in just 56 games last year, and he launched 56 nukes in 2022. Most of the leading projection models expect him to finish with 30-plus homers this year. If he manages that, he'll be a serious contender for AL Rookie of the Year.

Murakami is the second-biggest favorite at DraftKings to be crowned the American League's top rookie. His lack of value on defense could hurt his chances, but if the big man hits bombs for fun like he's capable of, it may not matter what he does when he's not at the plate.

🌟 Kazuma Okamoto - 3B, Toronto Blue Jays

Rookie of the Year odds: +425 via DraftKings

Kazuma Okamoto also arrives to the majors from the Japanese league, and he's set to play a pivotal role for the Toronto Blue Jays following the departure of Bo Bichette.

The Blue Jays' new third baseman doesn't have quite the same amount of pop that Murakami does, but he possesses better contact skills and can be used in somewhat of a utility role on the infield. He'll primarily play third but can shift to first baseman when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plays DH.

Despite the fact that Okamoto hit only 15 homers last year in Japan, he still managed an OPS over 1.000, and he swatted 41 big flies in 2023. Toronto fans will hope that power translates to MLB. He's currently projected to hit in the bottom third of the Blue Jays' lineup, but that could change before Opening Day.

I give Okamoto the slight edge between him and Murakami, as he could provide a serious impact on a playoff-bound team, and voters will value that more if the two finish with similar stats.

👀 Kevin McGonigle - SS, Detroit Tigers

Rookie of the Year odds: +800 via DraftKings

Kevin McGonigle topped out at Double-A during the 2025 season, but he managed a .991 OPS across the minors and hit 19 homers to go with 10 stolen bases in his 88 games.

The biggest issue facing the 21-year-old this season is when he'll make the team's major-league roster. The Detroit Tigers have a pretty solid lineup, with Zach McKinstry currently projected to play SS following a very strong 2025 campaign during which he accrued 3.2 fWAR.

Now, I don't think McKinstry is anything special, and the weak side of his platoon, Javier Baez, downright stinks. The Tigers should be a very good team this year, and if the rookie can make them even better, they won't hesitate to call him up.

McGonigle is the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, but I'd leave his +800 AL Rookie of the Year odds alone until we know more about how much he'll play in the majors this season. As it stands, he isn't projected to play a significant number of games in the majors this year.

🫅 Carter Jensen - C/DH, Kansas City Royals

Rookie of the Year odds: +600 via DraftKings

Unlike McGonigle, Carter Jensen's spot on the major-league Opening Day roster looks guaranteed. He debuted briefly for the Kansas City Royals last year, splitting time between catcher and DH. It appears he'll fall back into the same role this year, which will allow both he and veteran Sal Perez to remain fresh throughout the season.

For whatever reason, though, he isn't projected to play as many games as you'd expect.

I would be downright shocked if Jensen played only 70ish games this year. He excites me in the AL Rookie of the Year odds market because he plays for a team on the rise, and we just saw how much catchers are valued when it comes to this award with Drake Baldwin winning in the NL last year. 

The No. 18 prospect in baseball owns some serious power from the left side of the plate, which is a bit of a theme on this Royals team with Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone having similar profiles.

The one downside for Jensen is that he plays in a very pitcher-friendly park. But if he suits up nearly every day while providing some value at catcher, Jensen could be a serious contender to win AL Rookie of the Year.

🔮 Samuel Basallo - C/DH, Baltimore Orioles

Rookie of the Year odds: +900 via DraftKings

Here's another player who could serve as the future franchise catcher for his team. Jensen's path to that role is a little more straightforward, while Samuel Basallo's is filled with some question marks depending on what the Baltimore Orioles decide to do with Adley Rutschman. 

Regardless, Basallo is likely to serve as the team's DH, while he'll also spell Rutschman at catcher sporadically. Baseball's No. 8 prospect played 31 games in the majors last year, and he showed both some impressive power and serious flaws in his hitting approach.

Similarly to Jensen, though, his projections don't reflect what I believe to be a near-everyday role, or at the very least, the strong side of a platoon at DH.

I suppose there's some worry about veteran depth players who could challenge him as the DH. But the Orioles are reportedly trying to trade at least some of those players - Ryan Mountcastle being the main one - so I think Basallo should play upward of 120 games this year. He's sitting right in a pack of contenders by the AL Rookie of the Year odds at +900, and that's very appealing to me.

My only reservation is that it does seem the Orioles are really going for it this year. So, if their rookie catcher struggles, they could opt to send him down. Keep an eye on him during the spring.

⚾ National League

😍 Konnor Griffin - SS/OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Rookie of the Year odds: +600 via DraftKings

He may be only 19, but Konnor Griffin should absolutely play a ton of games for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. 

Across 122 games and three levels of minor-league baseball last year, Griffin launched 21 home runs and stole an absurd 65 bases. He has 70-grade speed, and the questions about his hit tool were very much answered last year. 

The only reason why Griffin is the third-biggest favorite in the NL Rookie of the Year market instead of the favorite is because we still don't know when the Pirates will call him up. It could be on Opening Day, or it could be in July. I'm going to track him closely during the spring and pounce on the best odds as soon as there's even a whisper that he could join the big-league roster early in the season.

🤝 Bubba Chandler - SP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Rookie of the Year odds: +1200 via DraftKings

Griffin is incredibly exciting, and the Pirates' lineup additions of Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna to join veteran Bryan Reynolds and the still very intriguing Oneil Cruz should get Pittsburgh fans in the seats. However, the best part about attending Pirates games this year is that they may have a new dynamic duo on the mound.

We already know about Cy Young odds favorite Paul Skenes, and his rookie teammate Bubba Chandler could find himself in that award race next year, too.

Chandler throws absolute gas, and he looked solid in a brief stint in the majors last year. He made four starts over seven appearances, did well to limit walks and the long ball, and his peripherals were really strong. He doesn't project to rack up strikeouts like Skenes did in his rookie campaign, but the numbers still look quite impressive.

Chandler is ranked as the No. 11 prospect in baseball and the second-best pitcher behind McLean. Between he and Griffin, I like the chances that the NL Rookie of the Year comes from the Pirates for the second time in three years.

💰 JJ Wetherholt - 2B, St. Louis Cardinals

Rookie of the Year odds: +425 via DraftKings

Sticking with the NL Central but shifting to a team with very little to get excited about, the St. Louis Cardinals may have one shining light in 2026. It appears the No. 5-ranked prospect in baseball, JJ Wetherholt, could begin the regular season as the Cardinals' everyday second baseman, forming a very strong middle-infield duo with Masyn Winn.

There's really no reason Wetherholt should spend any more time in the minors. He annihilated three levels of minor-league pitching last year, including 47 games in AAA during which he launched 10 homers and stole nine bases to go with a .314/.416/.562 slash line. This kid can hit, run, and field, and the projections support that.

The Cardinals stink, and that may hurt Wetherholt's Rookie of the Year chances if McLean, Griffin, and Chandler all perform similarly on better teams. However, I think he owns the greatest combination of seemingly guaranteed playing time and ceiling.

💰 Sal Stewart - 1B, Cincinnati Reds

Rookie of the Year odds: +950 via DraftKings

When it comes to Rookie of the Year odds value and who I'm leaning toward when making my preseason full-unit bet in the NL market, I saved the best for last.

Don't be fooled by Sal Stewart being the lowest-ranked prospect in this group. That's based on pure abilities. I don't care about abilities at this point. I care about production.

Stewart is projected to hit right in the heart of a very decent Cincinnati Reds lineup as the team's everyday first baseman, and he'll play half of his games in what was one of the top-10 most home run friendly ballparks in 2025. He drilled 20 home runs and stole 17 bases in 118 minor-league games last year, and Stewart looked super impressive in 18 games in the majors. He swatted five homers and managed a 124 wRC+ in his brief MLB stint. 

I think he profiles as one of only a few rookies this year who could realistically hit 30-plus home runs, and though Steamer is once again a bit low on his number of games played, that home run total looks possible when you run the data over a full season.

He could be the Murakami of the NL in terms of production at the plate overshadowing him being somewhat of a nothing-burger in the field. Murakami is trading at +425 to win AL Rookie of the Year. Stewart is more than twice as long to win in the NL. I love it.