In MLB.com’s first Rookie of the Year poll of the second half, a flamethrowing phenom is solidifying his grip atop the National League list, while an extremely tight race is shaping up in the American League between division rivals.
A panel of 36 MLB.com experts cast their ballots, with rookies receiving vote points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale — five points for a first-place vote, four points for a second-place vote and so on. Here are the results:
American League
1. Colton Cowser, Orioles (16 first-place votes)
Cowser jumped from third in our last Rookie of the Year poll to the top of the latest list thanks to a surge at the plate since the All-Star break. When the unofficial second half of the season began on July 14, the 24-year-old outfielder had a slash line of .219/.306/.418 with 12 home runs in 2024. In 13 games since then, he has an OPS over 1.100 with four homers.
Following a strong opening month, when he hit .303/.372/.632 with six homers, Cowser struggled to a .606 OPS the rest of the first half. But his swing has returned just in time for the stretch run as the O’s look to outrun the Yankees in a tight division race to win Baltimore’s second consecutive AL East title.
