Abreu’s Rookie of the Year season brings hope Sox can be like O’s originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
Two American League Rookie of the Year favorites will face off when the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles begin their three-game series on Monday.
Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu and O’s outfielder Colton Cowser have been the best rookie players on the Junior Circuit so far in the 2024 MLB campaign. According to Fanatics Sportsbook, they currently have the fourth and second best odds to win the AL ROY award, respectively.
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The Red Sox acquired Abreu and second baseman Enmanuel Valdez in the 2022 trade that sent veteran catcher Christian Vazquez to the Houston Astros. Time will tell, but this may have been the best move of Chaim Bloom’s tenure as Boston’s chief baseball officer. Abreu ranks second on the team in doubles (13) and OPS (.859), and fourth in home runs (5) and RBI (21).
Abreu’s emergence offers hope that the Red Sox can follow the Baltimore model of building a powerhouse with young talent. O’s catcher Adley Rutschman was AL ROY runner-up in 2022, shortstop Gunnar Henderson won the award in 2023 and Cowser has a great chance to win it in 2024. Young right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, former top prospect club, has shown ace potential in eight appearances this season.
Baltimore’s top candidate, Jackson Holliday – the #1 ranked prospect in MLB – had difficulties in his first spell in the big league, but without a doubt he has a bright future. Catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo (No. 14), corner infielder Coby Mayo (No. 20) and outfielder Heston Kjerstad (No. 22) are the other O’s ranked in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100.
There is reason to believe that Boston’s young core will soon face Baltimore’s. Abreu is on track to join Cowser as a finalist for Rookie of the Year. All signs point to former top prospect Triston Casas — ranked third in AL ROY last year — becoming a perennial All-Star first baseman. Rookie Ceddanne Rafaela has work to do offensively, but is already an elite defender at both center field and shortstop.
The Red Sox have three prospects in the MLB Top 100: shortstop Marcelo Mayer (No. 12), outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 17) and catcher Kyle Teel (No. 30). Each is believed to have All-Star upside and is expected to reach the majors by the end of 2025 — if not later this season.
Casas and Abreu’s Rookie of the Year bids could mark the beginning of an Orioles-like rise for Boston. That dream will become a reality if the aforementioned “Big Three” Red Sox prospects compete for the award next year. Just like the O’s, the Red Sox will rely heavily on their young talent to take them from the basement to the top of the AL East.
While Boston’s team-building approach resembles Baltimore’s, there is one significant difference: The Orioles have yet to land any of their young stars for contract extensions. The Red Sox already signed Rafaela It is young right-hander Brayan Bello – your old potential customer – for new business.
First pitch of Game 1 of the Red Sox-Orioles series is set for 1:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards.
