Oscar Colas Can Win 2023 AL Rookie of the Year

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of MLB prediction articles from the hosts of the Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast. Our National League Rookie of the Year predictions are here. Subscribe to the Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast on YouTube and on your preferred podcast platform for more Cubs and White Sox talk.YouTube. Apple Podcasts. Spotify. . .

We will have a full MLB preview on Wednesday night’s Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast. We’ll stream it live on YouTube, starting at 8 p.m. CST. Follow the show and our individual accounts on Twitter: Aldo, Zo, KFidds, Mitch.

Last year’s winner: Julio Rodriguez – Seattle Mariners

Aldo: Anthony Volpe – New York Yankees
Zo: Masataka Yoshida – Boston Red Sox
KFidds: Gunnar Henderson – Baltimore Orioles
Mitch: Gunnar Henderson – Baltimore Orioles

Gunnar Henderson
FanDuel: +270
DraftKings: +265
Caesars: +300

Masataka Yoshida
FanDuel: +600
DraftKings: +500
Caesars: +600

Anthony Volpe
FanDuel: +650
DraftKings: +500
Caesars: +450

Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson is the clear pre-season favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year and out of the three different picks he’s the only one to play in the majors already. Henderson played in 34 games last year and he posted a .788 OPS, slashing .259/.348/.440, with four home runs, 18 RBI and 12 runs scored in 132 plate appearances.

However, Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida definitely turned heads playing for Japan during the World Baseball Classic, going 9-for-22 at the plate with two home runs, including a massive three-run, game-tying bomb against Mexico in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, infielder Anthony Volpe played himself into the New York Yankees Opening Day roster after his impressive spring training. The 21-year-old is the youngest player on the Yankees Opening Day roster since Derek Jeter, who was also 21 in 1996.

Here are the players projections for the 2023 season according to ZiPS.

Gunnar Henderson
.259/.354/.458, 24 HR, 90 RBI, 100 R, 14 SB, 5.0 fWAR, 152 G, 649 PA

Masatak Yoshida
.305/.372/.489, 20 HR, 82 RBI, 70 R, 3 SB, 3.7 fWAR, 135 G, 565 PA

Anthony Volpe
.234/.318/.407, 17 HR, 77 RBI, 80 R, 24 SB, 3.5 fWAR, 131 G, 592 PA

Now, although he wasn’t picked by us, White Sox outfielder Oscar Colas does have a shot here. Like the others, he’s going to be on the Opening Day roster and he’s going to be given the chance to play every day in right field for the White Sox. The left-handed hitter has a lot of power and he’s projected to hit 20+ home runs this year. Yes, Colas is a risky pick, but if he catches fire during the summer on the south side, then watch out because the pop is real in his bat.

Oscar Colas ROY Odds
FanDuel: +2000
DraftKings: +1300
Caesars: +1500

José Abreu is the last White Sox player to win Rookie of the Year, earning the award in 2014.

Also you can use promo code to get 20% off baseball shirts at Obvious Shirts.