Paul Skenes, a standout pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, lived up to the immense expectations surrounding him, even starting in the All-Star Game just two months after his major league debut.
On the other hand, Luis Gil had a more challenging path with the New York Yankees, securing a spot in the rotation only after ace Gerrit Cole was sidelined due to an injury during spring training.
Skenes capped off an incredible rookie season by earning the National League Rookie of the Year award, outpacing San Diego’s Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio. In the American League, Gil narrowly defeated Baltimore’s Colton Cowser for the top honor, while Yankees catcher Austin Wells took the third spot.
This marks the first occasion since 2011 that the Rookie of the Year honors were awarded to two pitchers, with Tampa Bay’s Jeremy Hellickson and Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel taking home the accolades that year.
“I’m thrilled with how this year went and the chance to compete, but I know there’s still plenty of work ahead,” said Skenes, who planned a celebration with his girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, a gymnast and social media influencer from LSU.
Selected first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 amateur draft, Skenes didn’t make his big league debut until May 11. However, he made an immediate impact, earning the starting nod for the National League in the All-Star Game on July 16.
The 22-year-old finished the season with an impressive 11 wins and 3 losses, posting a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts, during which he struck out 170 batters and walked 32 in 133 innings pitched.
Looking ahead, Skenes is eager to tackle a full season next year. “I believe the preparation starts now. With the postseason progressing quickly, I’m already excited for spring training,” he remarked. “The biggest challenge will be proving my abilities consistently over a full season next year.”
In the voting conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Skenes garnered 23 first-place votes, totaling 136 points. Merrill received seven firsts and accumulated 104 points, while Chourio tallied 26 points.
Notably, Skenes is also a finalist for the prestigious NL Cy Young Award. “He not only delivered a dominant first season but also handled the spotlight exceptionally well,” praised Pirates general manager Ben Cherington. “He continuously seeks improvement, learns quickly, and is genuinely dedicated to winning, solidifying his role as a key player in the Pirates’ future.”
Skenes joins Jason Bay, who won the award in 2004, as the second Pirates player to achieve this recognition. Due to his top two finish in voting, he will receive a full year of major league service instead of just 142 days, allowing him to potentially become a free agent after the 2029 season if he remains in the majors and is not sent down to the minors.
On the other side, Gil claimed 15 first-place votes and garnered 106 points in the AL voting. Cowser earned 13 firsts and 101 points while Wells accumulated 17 points. The only recorded instance of a closer winning the award since 1980 was in 2003 when Royals shortstop Angel Berroa narrowly beat Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui.
Gil had a breakout season, registering 15 wins and 7 losses with a 3.50 ERA over 29 starts with the American League champions. He recorded 171 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings. “Winning this award means the world to me, and I’m thrilled,” said Gil through an interpreter. “My supporters are overjoyed and proud. I’m grateful to the team for the opportunity, and this season has been an incredible experience.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted Gil’s dedicated efforts after recovering from Tommy John surgery, stating that he “worked tirelessly to secure a strong position heading into spring training. With no assurance of a major league role, he blew the door down this spring and had a phenomenal rookie year.”
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Merrill made a significant impact, particularly in the second half of the season, sparking discussions about whether a position player should be awarded over a starting pitcher.
Transitioning from shortstop to center field during spring training, Merrill contributed to the San Diego Padres’ success, which included an All-Star selection and a playoff appearance where they swept Atlanta in the Wild Card Series before succumbing to the eventual World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the Division Series.
Chourio also impressed, demonstrating his versatility by becoming a 20-20 player at just 20 years old.
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A previous discrepancy in this article concerning Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter being the only Yankees recipients of the AL Rookie of the Year award has been corrected.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
