By Larry Rupp
Don’t look now, but the 2022 MLB season is going to be here sooner than you know it. Opening Day is on March 31 and teams are starting to fill out their rosters in an attempt to win a World Series title. Of course, those rosters will include a few new faces from the minor league level.
This year’s batch of rookies is full of players capable of coming in and making an immediate impact at the MLB level. Let’s take a look at the top three candidates to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award, with all odds according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (+330)
The Kansas City Royals drafted Bobby Witt Jr. with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, and he has done nothing but dominate since joining the organization. In fact, the 21-year-old shortstop was named the Minor League Player of the Year in 2021 by both Baseball America and USA Today. Witt slashed .290/.361/.575 with 33 home runs, 97 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 123 games played (61 at Double-A, 62 at Triple-A).
Witt enters the 2022 MLB season as the sport’s No. 3 prospect and has already been dubbed “The Franchise” by Royals’ All-Star second baseman Whit Merrifield. That may seem like high expectations, but Witt has simply ripped through the minor league system. There’s a shot the young slugger makes the Opening Day roster at third base, especially since Kansas City wants to get his bat into the lineup as soon as possible.
Bobby Witt Jr. can homer. Bobby Witt Jr. can steal a base.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 29, 2021
Bobby Witt Jr. can also play a mean shortstop. This might be his best play yet for @OMAStormChasers. pic.twitter.com/ori7sI9NzF
Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers (+450)
Spencer Torkelson made his way onto the MLB landscape in a much different way than Witt did. The Detroit Tigers prospect went undrafted out of high school before making a name for himself at Arizona State. He quickly became one of the most well-rounded hitters in NCAA baseball and eventually got selected No. 1 overall in the 2020 MLB Draft. Torkelson’s power cannot be denied and that showed throughout his 2021 minor league season.
The 22-year-old ballplayer started the year at high-A ball and finished the final 40 games in Triple-A. Overall, Torkelson slashed .267/.383/.552 with 30 home runs, 91 RBI and 77 walks across 121 games. Detroit heads into 2022 with realistically nothing to lose and hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2014. That means Torkelson could be in the lineup every day, which would give him a major leg up on the competition to be named Rookie of the Year.
Tork takeoff 🚀
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 26, 2021
Homer No. 29 of the season for @Tigers No. 1 prospect Spencer Torkelson. pic.twitter.com/fzuXXpiW2l
Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles (+500)
Of course, baseball’s No. 1 overall prospect Adley Rutschman is going to be in the Rookie of the Year conversation. The Baltimore Orioles catcher was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft and is a stellar defensive catcher that can also get on base. That is just the type of player the Orioles need in the lineup after finishing at the bottom of the AL East in 2021.
Rutschman slashed .285/.397/.502 with 23 home runs over 543 combined plate appearances at Double-A Bowie (358 PA) and Triple-A Norfolk (185 PA) in 2021. He has also thrown out 27 runners trying to steal during his minor league career. With little competition at the position, it won’t be long until the 24-year-old is pairing up with major league pitchers. Rutschman’s ability to make a difference on both sides of the baseball makes him a name to watch here.
Today is the 24th birthday of MLB's No. 1 prospect, Adley Rutschman. pic.twitter.com/kMS1tfO7yH
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 6, 2022
The rest of the top six is filled out by Shane Baz of the Tampa Bay Rays (+800), Josh Jung of the Texas Rangers (+900) and Jeremy Pena of the Houston Astros (+1000).
Picture Credit: Minda Haas Kuhlmann
