AL Rookie of the Year odds feature White Sox slugger and Tigers phenom

TL;DR

Munetaka Murakami of the White Sox is the favorite for AL Rookie of the Year at +145, closely followed by Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers at +155. Both rookies have made significant early impacts in the 2026 MLB season.

Key points

Munetaka Murakami is the favorite for AL Rookie of the Year at +145.
Kevin McGonigle follows closely at +155 after a strong start.
Both rookies have made significant impacts in the 2026 MLB season.

Munetaka MurakamiKevin McGonigleChicago White SoxDetroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) watches the ball after batting a foul ball against Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 2, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Two rookies are off to fast starts in the American League with both Munetaka Murakami and Kevin McGonigle making an early splash. It’s no surprise the duo finds themselves atop FanDuel’s American League Rookie of the Year 2026 market through the first month of the season. Only two of the last 14 American League Rookie of the Year winners were full-time pitchers, giving a sizable recency advantage to rookie hitters in the voting. Chicago White Sox slugging sensation Munetaka Murakami (+145) is the current favorite for AL Rookie of the Year. Tied for the league lead in home runs (14 in 35 games) with Aaron Judge, Murakami is tied for fifth in baseball in RBI (28) and ninth in OPS (.961). The Japanese first baseman is off to a highlight-reel start with numerous towering home runs and a star quality the White Sox lacked in recent seasons. Murakami’s only downside is a high strikeout rate with 50 in his first 35 games. Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (+155) stays in the mix with Murakami after for March/April. A four-hit performance on Opening Day set the tone for the 21-year-old’s fast start, which included signing just weeks into the start of his Major League career. McGonigle is 16th in baseball with a .315 batting average to go along with two home runs, 16 RBI and a notable 2.2 WAR. Although Murakami is deservedly grabbing early headlines for his power, McGonigle has been the most polished rookie at the start of the season. After a rapid decline in odds from the top two contenders, right fielder (+1000) and third baseman (+1200) find themselves firmly in the next tier. Both players find themselves in the midst of recent hot streaks. DeLauter went 8-for-11 during Cleveland’s latest three-game series against , giving him a team-leading .304 batting average, 21 RBI and .946 OPS. In the midst of an eight-game hitting streak and 12 straight games on base, DeLauter is recovering nicely and could be a sleeper candidate with continued production. Okamoto has , finding his stride by hitting mammoth home runs and climbing Toronto’s batting order. Although behind in offensive numbers compared to his rookie counterparts, Okamoto has the power and defensive acumen to quickly climb the odds if the hot streak sustains.

Q&A

Who are the top contenders for AL Rookie of the Year 2026?

The top contenders are Munetaka Murakami from the White Sox and Kevin McGonigle from the Tigers.

What are Munetaka Murakami's current stats in the 2026 season?

Murakami has 14 home runs, 28 RBI, and a .961 OPS in 35 games.

What notable achievements has Kevin McGonigle accomplished this season?

McGonigle was named AL Rookie of the Month for March/April and signed an eight-year, $150 million extension early in his career.