Major League Baseball Spring Training kicks off this week with pitchers and catchers reporting, moving us closer to the first pitch of the regular season and Ohio sports betting on the MLB.
With the season approaching, BetOhio.com utilized FanGraphs.com to find the number of players on each MLB team that are homegrown (drafted or signed) on the projected 40-man roster for the 2024 season. Here are the teams who are building from within:
MLB Teams with Most Homegrown Talent
Ohio sportsbook apps list the Los Angeles Dodgers as the World Series favorite at +360. Atlanta is second at +600.
Guardians Top Homegrown Talent List
Cleveland tops the list with 25 players (62.5%), while Cincinnati is tied for 10th with Toronto at 17 players each (42.5%).
Under new manager Stephen Vogt, the Guardians have a nucleus of five players to build a foundation. They are third baseman Jose Ramirez (12th year, 24 HRs, 80 RBI, .282 last season), leftfielder Steve Kwan (3rd), pitcher Shane Bieber (7th), pitcher Triston McKenzie (5th) and right fielder Will Brennan (3rd). Five players with 30 years of experience, all in the Forest City.
In the Queen City, five players will fortify the foundation, but one player has the ability to bring them to the next level. The 21-year-old third baseman Elly De La Cruz is coming off an exciting rookie year where he had 13 HRs, 44 RBI, 35 SBs with a .235 batting average in 98 games played. His potential is limitless, and his exciting brand of play is contagious. Caesars Sportsbook Ohio lists the most valuable player odds for De La Cruz at +6000.
Shortstop Matt McLain also enters his second season off a solid 16 HRs, 50 RBIs, 14 SBs, .290 batting average performance in 2023. The De La Cruz/McClain duo could be off the charts for years to come. Other homegrown players include veteran second baseman Jonathan India (4th season), pitcher Hunter Greene (3rd) and pitcher Graham Ashcraft (3rd). Five players with just 14 combined years of experience makes for a formidable franchise over the next few seasons.
BetMGM Guardians, Reds Futures
A quick glance at both Ohio teams future odds over at BetMGM Ohio:
- Guardians: World Series winner, +6600; American League champion: +3000
- Reds: World Series winner, +4000; National League champion: +2200
Although both are longshots, one thing is for certain, two young teams in the state will be bringing excitement and hope to both their cities. Play ball!
