Seiya Suzuki is One of the Favorites for National League Rookie of the Year

It’s always a little funny to see international professionals identified as one of a team’s best prospects when they finally make the switch over to MLB. They’re usually older, more established, and … well, just not prospects anymore. Not in the spirit of the word, anyway. But for as much as I may disagree with that designation, I *do* think these players should be eligible for Rookie of the Year honors, which is probably better defined as best performance from a first-year MLB player.

Speaking of which, the Cubs have a very notable first year MLB player on the roster this year. His name is Seiya Suzuki, and I’m thinking you’ve heard of him by now. He signed the fifth largest free agent contract in Cubs history (cost the Cubs ~$100M for five years), and he’s one of the favorites to be the 2022 National League Rookie of the Year.

•   DraftKings: +400 (2nd)

•   PointsBet: +500 (t-2nd with Keibert Ruiz)

•   FanDuel: +350 (t-1st with Oneil Cruz)

•   BetRivers: +400 (2nd)

•   Caesars: +550 (2nd)

So there’s a bit of a range there, but Seiya Suzuki is almost unanimously considered the second best bet for ROY honors next season, and for one book, he’s the odds-on favorite. And why not? We just went over his projections the other day, and they’re fantastic:

Steamer has Suzuki for a drool-worthy .286/.386/.528 (140 wRC+) slash line, with 29 homers and a strikeout rate under 19%. That would be, uh … a dream come true. ZiPS envisions a little less pop and OBP (which often go hand in hand), projecting still solid overall contributions: .287/.351/.480 (124 OPS+).

Until he proves he can handle the higher velocity of MLB pitching, there will be concerns about his ceiling with the bat. It may take a little time. But the scouts seem to agree that he has the bat speed and path to match up just fine. And if he does handle heat well enough, his near-term ceiling is that of an All-Star right fielder, which will certainly translate to a ROY-worthy performance, if it happens all in year one.

Suzuki’s No. 1 competitor? According to the books, that would be Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (No. 26 prospect in MLB according to MLB Pipeline). Last season, Cruz went all the way from Double-A to Triple-A to The Show, hitting at every stop along the way. And, uh, yeah … this guy is a freak. He’s a 6’7″, 220lbs, left-handed hitting shortstop with 65 power and 70 arm scores on the scouting scale, and he can hit ANYTHING a really long way. He might move off shortstop early in his career, but Cruz has a shot to play there at least this season, which will give him a better shot at taking home some hardware by the end of the year. Seems a pretty fair favorite.

Note, however, that Suzuki isn’t the only Cubs player with ROY odds on the book. Brennen Davis (+2200) and even Brailyn Márquez (+10,000, 37th) show up on DraftKings books. And here’s how Davis shakes out elsewhere: PointsBet (+2000), BetRivers (+2000), Caesars (+2500), and FanDuel (+3,500). Because Davis will start the year out at Triple-A, he’ll have more of an uphill climb come award season. But it sure would be fun if we had a ROY race to watch in Chicago come July or August, eh? One or both outfielders?

written by

Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

more cubs news

Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs at Rangers – Lineups, Pitching Matchup, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

*SHORT COURTS: It's Time To Bring The Home Court, Home! Looking for a unique way to celebrate your athlete or team before you peruse the FIRST CHICAGO CUBS LINEUP of the Year? Don't miss out! For just one more week...

The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

Latest News

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

In their season opener on Friday, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at Chase Field.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Arizona-Colorado...

Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians when they square off against starter Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the...

How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

In their season opener on Friday, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners play Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Boston matchup...

How to Watch Padres vs. Giants: Live Stream or on TV

Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres (2-1) host Jorge Soler and the San Francisco Giants (0-1) on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.The article below will provide you with everything you need to know to watch...

Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The St. Louis Cardinals (0-1), led by Paul Goldschmidt, visit Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1) at 10:10 PM ET on Friday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Los Angeles play St. Louis...

OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Houston Astros (0-1), with Cristian Javier on the mound, will host the New York Yankees (1-0), who will send out Carlos Rodon, at 8:10 PM ET on Friday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and...

Rays vs. Blue Jays: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0), led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., visit Yandy Diaz and the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) at 6:50 PM ET on Friday.Find out how to watch the Tampa Bay-Toronto matchup below.When is Rays vs. Blue Jays and...

Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

more cubs news