A 27-year-old is the NL Rookie of the Year favorite.
Different sports have different rules about what constitutes a rookie. In the NFL, it’s your draft class, period. In the NBA, you are a rookie once you take the court for a game the first time – why Ben Simmons was the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year despite being drafted in 2016. He missed his entire first season due to injury.
We aren’t going to get into all the details about what constitutes an MLB rookie, but here’s one thing we know for sure: If you haven’t played in the majors before, you are one regardless of age. Thus, even at 27 years old (28 in August), Japanese import Seiya Suzuki is the NL Rookie of the Year favorite at +375. Just for a point of comparison, Bryce Harper was 19 when he won the same award in 2012.
Service Time Again Big Question
The Cubs are in a weird spot this year: Rebuilding after collapsing to a 71-91 record in 2021 and selling off all their players and yet also trying to semi-contend at the same time. Well, maybe ownership wants the fan base to think the latter so they show up in droves at Wrigley Field.
Seiya hits RBI singles, too.@suzuki_seiya_sb pic.twitter.com/UWQc9bcd4d
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 4, 2022
Chicago signed Suzuki to a five-year, $85 million contract. He was a four-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time batting champion in Japan’s Central League as a member of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Last season, Suzuki hit .317 with 38 homers and 88 RBIs. He also is capable of 20-plus stolen bases. Suzuki was not subject to international signing bonus limitations because he was at least 25 years old with six or more seasons of professional experience.
The last Cubs ROY was Kris Bryant in 2015; he was one of the players traded during last season’s fire sale. A few Japanese imports have won ROY, last the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani in 2018.
The betting favorite for NL Rookie of the Year had been 6-foot-7 Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz, ranked as the No. 26 prospect in the sport. Last year across two levels in the minors, he hit .310 with 17 homers and 47 RBIs in 68 games. Cruz, who would be the tallest everyday shortstop in big league history, looked good at the plate this spring but will not make the big club for “defensive seasoning.” More like the Pirates want to manipulate his service time.
Because Cruz may not be called up until May, he’s now a +500 second-favorite with Padres shortstop CJ Abrams, ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the sport. Abrams was the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year in 2019 in Georgia and is given an 80 grade (highest) in speed. If Fernando Tatis Jr. weren’t to miss about the first two months injured, Abrams probably has no chance of breaking camp with the Padres, but he likely will now.
One touted prospect who has won an MLB job is Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene (+550), he of the 104-mph fastball. Greene, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 draft out of high school, is scheduled to start in Atlanta against the world champion Braves on Sunday in his big-league debut.
No other player is below +1000 for NL Rookie of the Year.
