MLB American League Rookie of the Year Odds 2022: Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene Top List
The weather in the northeast and mid-west may not reflect it but we are just under two weeks until MLB opens their 2022 season. It is always fun to look at the favorites on Opening Day, make bold predictions, and look back to see how accurate you were. Right now, we are all about focusing on the AL Rookie of the Year candidates.
Rookie of the Year favorites
If a team has one player on their roster that is being mentioned as a possible rookie of the year candidate you already know that he must have a possible phenomenal talent. Now, what if you two?
The Detroit Tigers have that luxury as they boast two of the top prospects in MLB with Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene.
Torkelson, the top pick in 2020, took the minor leagues by storm in 2021. In 121 games, Tork hit 30 home runs, drove in 91, and hit .267. Those numbers follow an incredible career at Arizona State. In three seasons for the Sun Devils, Torkelson hit 54 homers, drove in 130, and hit .337. He is more than MLB ready and should be a fixture in the heart of the Tigers lineup.
Now on to Riley Greene. Another high selection for Detroit, Greene was the fifth pick in the 2019 draft. Unlike Torkelson, Greene was selected right out of high school. So far this kid is as good as advertised. Tigers fans are hoping his strong play carries over to the big leagues in 2022.
Green, who just turned 21 this past September, split his first full professional season in 2021 between Double and Triple-A and was more than impressive. Green smashed 24 home runs, 33 troubles (triples plus doubles), and swiped 16 bases on 17 attempts. I would never compare this kid to the late, great Al Kaline, but he should be the Tigers’ CF or RF for the next decade. His ceiling is very high and insiders say his intelligence for the game is beyond his youthful 21 years of age.
The favorites
While the Tigers are very excited about their future, the Royals are feeling that same optimism with Bobby Witt Jr. The early overall favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year, Witt was selected No. 2 overall in 2019.
Like Torkelson and Greene, he shined last season in the minors. Witt’s numbers line .290/.361/.575 includes 33 home runs and 35 doubles across Double and Triple-A in his first full professional season.
Below is a look at the early odds to win the AL Rookie of the Year for 2022.
Odds to win AL Rookie of the Year
- Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) +300
- Spencer Torkelson (Tigers) +500
- Riley Greene (Tigers) +800
- Adley Rutschman (Orioles) +800
- Julio Rodriguez (Mariners) +900
- Jeremy Pena (Astros) +1400
- Shane Baz (Rays) +1800
- Luis Gil (Yankees) +2000
- Triston Casas (Red Sox) +2000
- Nate Pearson (Blue Jays) +3000
- Jarren Duran (Red Sox) +3000
- Jose Miranda (Twins) +4000
- Grayson Rodriguez (Orioles) +2000
- Pedro Leon (Astros) +4200
- Joe Ryan (Twins) +4500
- Cristian Pache (Athletics) +4500
- Brent Honeywell Jr. (Athletics) +5000
- FIELD +5500
