Rookie of the Year

One of the more exciting aspects of any MLB season is taking notice of the young players who have a chance to become stars for the next 10-15 years. 2023 is no different in this regard, as fans have been treated to eye-opening performances from guys who are just getting their feet wet at the major league level.

The crop of emerging talent has created excitement for local fans as well as those who are part of the sports betting community.

To this end, we’ll take a look at the three leading contenders for National League Rookie Of The Year.

Corbin Carroll

Despite investing a first-round pick on Carroll in the 2019 MLB Draft, the Arizona Diamondbacks probably didn’t expect him to be this good this soon. In his first full season in the big leagues, Carroll has set the National League on fire by making the All-Star team, when many just expected him to find himself as a rookie.

Carroll’s power has been impressive, as he’s hit over 20 home runs while maintaining a strong batting average. Additionally, he has been a force on the basepaths, swiping over 25 bags as well. If this type of well-rounded play continues, Carroll could find himself amongst some very elite company in a couple of years. 

Francisco Alvarez

Everyone could identify Alvarez’s talent at the plate from a mile away for many years. He would routinely mash minor league pitching, and it was all but a foregone conclusion that he would have similar success once he was called up to the New York Mets. He’s been as-advertised in that department, slugging home runs at an impressive rate.

However, there were questions about how well he could handle a pitching staff behind the plate as a catcher. As it turns out, Alvarez has worked extremely hard to put the pitchers on the mound in a position to succeed, which has not gone unnoticed by the team’s veteran hurlers. This dedication to some of the less glamorous aspects of the game can help him become one of the best backstops in the league. 

Elly De La Cruz

There might be no player in the game right now who plays with more energy than the Cincinnati Reds shortstop/third baseman. That electricity has helped reinvigorate a fan base that has had to endure some lean years, but the team appears to be back on the right track thanks to the play of their infielder of the future, as well as the present.

There aren’t too many players as physically gifted as De La Cruz, who appears just as likely to smash a home run into the upper deck as he is to steal second and third base on consecutive pitches. His exuberance have rubbed some the wrong way, but Cincinnati does not want their emerging young star to play with any hesitation. In the social media world that we find ourselves in, he’s the perfect player to feature on highlight reels.