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Wander Franco MVP Odds: Vegas Buying All of the Hype Around Rays Youngster

By Reed Wallach

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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The Tampa Bay Rays have become an American League powerhouse without the star power that some other contending clubs have. Until now.

Wander Franco burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2021, hitting .288 in 70 games with a strong .347 on-base percentage. The seeds are there for stardom from the shortstop, but how high is his ceiling? Well, oddsmakers think he has MVP upside by his odds.

Franco is listed at +1500 to win AL MVP in 2022 at WynnBET Sportsbook, the fourth choice behind Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Here is the full list of MVP odds:

American League MVP Odds

  • Shohei Ohtani: +400
  • Mike Trout: +425
  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr: +475
  • Wander Franco: +1500
  • Byron Buxton: +1500
  • Aaron Judge: +2000
  • Rafael Devers: +2500
  • Jose Ramirez: +2500
  • Yordan Alvarez: +3000

How Wander Franco Can Win AL MVP

Looking at the odds, Franco is being thrust into a tough awards race against power hitters like Ohtani and Guerrero and the fully healthy Trout, but the upside of the second year pro is tantalizing.

The Rays shortstop can benefit from playing his first full season in the bigs and thrive as being the new flavor of the week for talking heads to discuss. It also helps that Franco is the biggest name on a team that is projected to contend for the American League East crown, widely thought of as the deepest division in baseball. With limited competition on his own team, Franco can benefit from Tampa Bay being in the hunt for the AL Pennant.

If Franco shines as expected, and the Rays win the division, he'll have some serious pointers going his way as the most talented player on his team. It also helps that he will be in contention with two teammates that can cancel each other out in Ohtani and Trout as well as Guerrero Jr. who is on a loaded roster with Toronto that can take away some of his momentum.

Vegas is buying all the hype on Franco, and it's tough not to see it. Last season, he reached base in 43 consecutive games, which tied with Frank Robinson in 1956 for the longest in AL/NL history by a player 20 years old or younger.

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