Each year, new player futures hit the board at the start of the MLB season. Along with over/under stat bets, fans can also wager on league leaders in specific categories.
Here’s a look at a few of the best options heading into the season.
Home Run Leader
Nick Kurtz (+1700)
This is a straightforward pick. Kurtz hit 36 home runs in 117 games, which puts him on a 50-homer pace over a full season.
There’s also the added factor of Sutter Health Park playing even more hitter-friendly in 2026, with warm weather expected in Sacramento in the coming months.
Kurtz ranked in the 98th percentile in both bat speed and barrel rate. A 50-plus home run season is well within reach for the Athletics’ sophomore.
Juan Soto (+3000)
The +3000 price seems very generous.
Soto has hit 84 home runs over the past two seasons. After a slow start to his time with the Mets, the future Hall of Famer was on a 53-homer pace from June 1 through the end of the regular season.
His Baseball Savant profile is a reminder, if one is needed, of just how elite a hitter Soto is. He already ranks among the best of this era.
At +3000, the value is clear.
Yordan Alvarez (+7000)
Alvarez ranks in the 97th percentile in bat speed and has averaged 41 home runs per 162 games for his career. His long odds come down to availability, as he has only topped 135 games once.
When healthy, Alvarez belongs in the same tier as Juan Soto and Aaron Judge as a hitter.
The power is there for him to push into the 40s and potentially beyond. This is a bet on his health, and the odds will shorten quickly if he stays on the field.
Strikeout Leader
Dylan Cease (+850)
Cease led the majors in strikeouts per nine innings in 2025 and has averaged 232.1 strikeouts per 162 games over the past five seasons.
A Blue Jays pitcher has led the AL in strikeouts in two of the previous five seasons. Cease’s 162-game average puts him in the mix, though he likely needs to reach 240-plus to have a real chance of cashing this ticket.
That number is within reach if Cease makes 31 or more starts. His stuff is still sharp enough.
Logan Gilbert (+2500)
Gilbert’s 11.9 strikeouts per nine in 2025 marked a significant jump from his previous levels. He has also led the majors in innings, so the workload is there to put him in this conversation.
Gilbert posted a 109 Pitching+, and he’s looking to add a splinker to an already deep arsenal in 2026 to keep hitters off balance.
Project his 173 strikeouts over 25 starts across a full season, and you get a pitcher capable of leading the league in strikeouts.
Kyle Bradish (+10000)
Across a 14-start sample in 2024 and 2025, Kyle Bradish has posted 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings. That translates to 242.9 strikeouts over a 34-start season.
The limited volume shouldn’t be a deterrent. Bradish has ace-level stuff, led by an elite slider he threw 32% of the time last season. His curveball could become a bigger factor in 2026 as well.
The main concern is a likely innings cap, but he’s still worth a flyer at this price.
RBIs
Pete Alonso (+1500)
Alonso led the majors in RBIs in 2022. He has since posted seasons with 118 and 126, finishing as the NL runner-up both times.
Alonso’s durability, just 10 games missed over the past four seasons, is a key reason he profiles well in this market. He has also joined an offense that should be even more dynamic than the Mets lineup he played in last year.
Volume in a strong lineup puts Alonso firmly in contention for the RBI lead. If he clears 40 home runs, there’s a good chance he eclipses 130 RBIs again.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+1600)
Guerrero Jr. has only had two seasons with 100-plus RBIs. The case for him is largely tied to Toronto’s high-contact, deep lineup, which should consistently put runners on base ahead of him.
Where Alonso’s candidacy is driven by his extra-base power, Guerrero offers a blend of power and contact.
A batting title contender, Guerrero is likely to hover around .300 and pile up RBIs by driving in runners from second.
Brent Rooker (+3500)
Brent Rooker drove in 112 runs in 2024 and played every game in 2025, two strong indicators of a potential breakout run-producing season.
Sutter Health Park’s hitter-friendly environment only adds to the case. The Athletics also feature an under-the-radar, deep lineup that could rank among the top five in baseball.
Only 22 players had more baserunners on base during their plate appearances than Rooker in 2025. That number could climb even higher in 2026.
Hits
Jacob Wilson (+2800)
Jacob Wilson ranked in the 90th percentile in xBA in 2025. He rarely strikes out, posting a 99th percentile whiff rate along with a squared-up rate in the 97th percentile.
In a brief minor league career, Wilson hit .393. His 2025 batting average put him on a pace of more than 195 hits over a full season, a mark that would have led the league in both 2021 and 2025.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+600)
A 99th percentile xBA is paired with a low chase rate and an 81st percentile squared-up percentage. Guerrero finished third in the majors in hits in both 2021 and 2024.
The five-time All-Star also placed in the top 10 in 2022 and 2025.
Bobby Witt Jr. is understandably the betting favorite, but Guerrero offers strong value at +600. His contact ability can get overlooked given his all-around production.
*Home run odds from FanDuel.
*Strikeout, RBI, and Hits odds from Bet365.
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