MLB Prediction: Rookie of the Year Awards Should Go to Gunnar Henderson (Orioles) and Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks)
If the betting market is any indication, there may not be a ton of drama around who will take home the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year trophies.
In the AL, Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson had a commanding 1.8-win lead in Wins Above Replacement over the next-highest finalist, Cleveland pitcher Tanner Bibee, with Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas sitting a distant third. Henderson led all qualified AL rookies in home runs, runs scored and RBIs; while Casas actually had the better on-base percentage and OPS, Henderson’s superior defense at much more premium positions helped drive his big edge in WAR.
On the NL side, there seems to be very little standing in the way of Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, who finished nearly 2 WAR clear of both other finalists, Mets pitcher Kodai Senga and Dodgers outfielder James Outman. Carroll got plenty of deserved attention during Arizona’s surprising run to the World Series, but even before that he was the first rookie to post 25 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season. Both Henderson and especially Carroll are heavy favorites in the betting odds, so it would be a shock if either wasn’t crowned their league’s top rookie this season.
