Cubs’ Suzuki odds-on favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year

It’s safe to say that Seiya Suzuki’s transition to America is going smoothly. The Chicago Cubs outfielder has rocketed atop the National League Rookie of the Year odds board thanks to a historic start in the Windy City.

Ryan Murphy - Managing Editor at Covers.com
Ryan Murphy • Managing Editor
May 5, 2022 • 10:46 ET • 4 min read
Seiya Suzuki Chicago Cubs MLB
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Seiya Suzuki bandwagon is beginning to get awfully crowded.

Bettors at BetMGM have been doubling down on the Chicago Cubs outfielder lately, pushing his National League Rookie of the Year odds from +500 on Opening Day to -160 on May 5. The Japanese sensation presently accounts for 39.8% of all tickets and 66.9% of all NL ROY handle at the sportsbook.

Odds to win NL Rookie of the Year

Player Odds
Seiya Suzuki (Cubs) -160
MacKenzie Gore (Padres) +900
Hunter Greene (Reds) +1,000
Oneil Cruz (Pirates) +1,000
CJ Abrams (Padres) +2,000
Seth Beer (Diamondbacks) +2,000
Max Meyer (Marlins) +2,000
Nick Lodolo (Reds) +2,000
Joey Bart (Giants) +3,000
Nolan Gorman (Cardinals) +3,500

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of May 5, 2022. 

Suzuki tore up NPB

A rookie in name only, Suzuki enjoyed a stellar nine-year stint in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league, where he hit .315 with 182 home runs and 1,697 RBIs and was a five-time NPB All-Star and Golden Glove winner. His plus defense and ability to mash caught the attention of all 30 Major League clubs, and he agreed to a lucrative five-year, $85 million free-agent deal with the Cubs on March 18, 2022.

Suzuki’s sizzling start

That wealth of experience was evident in Suzuki’s first two weeks in the bigs when he hit .400 with four homers and 11 RBIs. In fact, he wasn’t just good, he was historically good. Suzuki became the first player ever with eight or more RBIs and four or more walks in his first four games, and the first player in 79 years to hit safely in his first nine games. His blazing hot start earned him National League Player of the Week honors, and resulted in high praise from three-time MVP Mike Trout:

Suzuki has cooled off since with just one hit in his last six games, but the 27-year-old right fielder should continue to get plenty of at bats as the Cubs gut out a full-on rebuild. It helps as well that he has a big supporter in Chicago skipper David Ross, who has repeatedly lauded Suzuki for his competitive spirit and superb work ethic.

The season is still young, but Suzuki could become the seventh Cub to capture NL Rookie of the Year honors, following in the footsteps of Billy Williams, Ken Hubbs, Jerome Walton, Kerry Wood, Geovany Soto, and Kris Bryant.

Gore offers more

Those in search of more value may want to laser in on Padres hurler MacKenzie Gore, who claimed a spot in San Diego’s rotation due to injuries to Blake Snell and Mike Clevinger.

The 23-year-old made his MLB debut on April 15 against the Atlanta Braves and held the defending champs to three hits in 5 1-3 innings. He was even better in his second career start against the Cincinnati Reds five days later, striking out seven over five innings to pick up his first win.

The third pick in the 2017 draft, Gore is making a strong case to stay in the Friars’ rotation even after the club is back at full strength.

The National League Rookie of the Year award will be given out in mid November at the conclusion of the 2022 World Series.

Pages related to this topic

Ryan Murphy Managing Editor at Covers
Managing Editor

Ryan Murphy began his love affair with sports journalism at the age of nine when he wrote his first article about his little league baseball team. He has since authored his own weekly column for Fox Sports and AskMen and has created successful campaigns for some of the biggest and most trusted brands in the world including Walt Disney, HBO, the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL.

“Murph,” as he’s known to friends, began his journey in sports betting in 2017, and enjoyed a highly rewarding tenure at Churchill Downs, where he oversaw the creation of the TwinSpires Edge and served as the publication’s first editor-in-chief. His nose for news and ability to find and nurture talent helped turn the site into a major player within the online gambling industry.

Although Ryan loves examining odds movement and breaking down matchups, he’s also a prolific creative writer whose critically acclaimed stories have been published in 21 books and have been featured on more than 170 radio stations and 40 newspapers. His latest book, My Life’s a Joke, is a laugh-out-loud memoir about the epic fails that thickened his skin and paved the way for a successful 15-year career as a touring stand-up comedian.

Ryan’s top piece of advice to sports bettors: “Bet with your head, not your heart. It pains me to be pragmatic, but blind loyalty has no place in sports wagering.”

Popular Content

Legal Canadian sports betting

Best Canadian betting sites Ontario sports betting
Covers 25 Years Logo Established in 1995,
Covers is the world
leader in sports
betting information.
Covers is verified safe by: Evalon Logo GPWA Logo GDPR Logo GeoTrust Logo Evalon Logo