For the second time in the MLBtwo debut pitchers are chosen Rookies of the Year in every league in the MLB, since Fernando Valenzuela and Dave Righetti in 1981.
The right of Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skeneswas named 2024 National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America on Monday.
Skenes received 23 first-place votes to edge out San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio. Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga, the only other rookie to receive votes, finished fourth. He is the fewest players to earn NL Rookie of the Year votes under the BBWAA’s three-player-per-ballot format, which began in 1980.
Skenes is the second Pirates player to win Rookie of the Year, joining Jason Bay in 2004, and the first National League starting pitcher to win it since Jacob deGrom in 2014. He is the fifth former first overall pick to win the award. in any of the leagues, after Bob Horner in 1978, Darryl Strawberry in 1983, Bryce Harper in 2012 and Carlos Correa in 2015.
“This is cool, and I think the coolest part is it puts a bow on last year, and we can look forward to next year,” the 22-year-old said on MLB Network after receiving the award.
Skenes made a big impression just one year after the Pirates drafted the pitcher out of LSU. Armed with a six-pitch arsenal that includes a fastball averaging 99 mph and a devastating splinker, he went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 170 strikeouts, along with an 11.5 K/R. 9 in 133 innings.
Although he did not have a complete game, Skenes pitched at least six innings in 16 of his 23 starts and worked the seventh inning five times, including an 8 1/3 inning gem against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 23. He only allowed more than three runs in a start once, when he allowed four against the Dodgers on August 10, and had five scoreless starts and eight more strikeouts. His season high at Ks was 11, which he achieved twice.
Luis Gil achieves it from New York
The right of New York Yankees, Luis Gil, was named American League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Gil received 15 first-place votes to finish ahead of Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser by five points.
It was the second closest finish in All Roy history.
Gil is the first Yankees pitcher to win Rookie of the Year since Dave Righetti in 1981 after writing a 15-7 record with a 3.50 ERA and 10.1 K/9 in 29 starts. He is the 10th Yankees player to claim the honor and the first since Aaron Judge in 2017.
“It means a lot to me,” Gil said on MLB Network through an interpreter.
