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Best bets for NL Rookie of the Year

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We're slowly chipping away at the list of MLB futures for the upcoming season, having previously covered AL and NL MVP bets, Cy Young candidates, prop bets for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, and more.

Today, we're digging into NL Rookie of the Year. You can check out our AL picks here.

Pete Alonso (5-1)

Players often come out of nowhere and rake in spring training to warrant our attention. New York Mets prospect Alonso has done just that.

The former 2016 second-round pick flat-out crushed it (pun intended) in the minors last season, blasting 36 homers across Double-A and Triple-A. Over his first 11 games this spring, Alonso posted an unbelievable slash line of .406/.457/.813 and three homers. There are guys who can rake, and then there are hitters like Alonso who make moonshots look effortless.

The lineup around Alonso will do him no harm, with Jose Reyes and Austin Jackson no longer setting the table. The Mets went out to revamp the order this winter and Alonso can be a potent power bat in the middle of it.

Every single FanGraphs metric counts Alonso in for at least 20 homers. Fans is extremely optimistic, predicting 31 homers, 92 RBIs, and a 137 wRC+.

Yeah, we think that would get the job done.

Nick Senzel (10-1)

It's going to take a position change, but the Cincinnati Reds will likely find a spot for their 2016 first-round pick. Senzel impressed in each level of the minors, owning a .314/.390/.514 slash line with 27 homers, 76 doubles, and 40 stolen bases over 231 games. Senzel doesn't pack Alonso's power punch, but he'll be able to do a little bit of everything. He'll also benefit from playing half his games at Great American Ball Park, which should help to boost his home run totals if he can get some lift on the ball.

Senzel is a pretty polished player. He doesn't offer as high a ceiling as others, but he has a solid floor.

Chris Paddack (12-1)

The common narrative surrounding the San Diego Padres after signing Manny Machado was that the club needed to go out and snag another front-line starter to bolster a so-so rotation.

What if that guy was there the entire time?

One of the knocks on Paddack is that he's never pitched above Double-A. That's not to say he can't. With the affiliate last season, the decorated right-hander posted a 1.91 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 37.2 innings. There's been nothing but rave reviews during his first true chance to show out in spring training. Paddack has allowed only three earned runs with 20 strikeouts over 12.2 innings. The 23-year-old is making a good case to crack the rotation.

FanGraphs' projections seem to be uniform, marking Paddack down for 16 starts, six wins, and a K/9 around 9.00. Right now, those numbers would seem like an upgrade in a Padres rotation that desperately needs a boost if the club is serious about winning this season.

Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.

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