11-18-24 Ethan Smith– @mvp_EtHaN
Well, all the hoopla is on the wayside.
Paul Skenes, who was drafted and signed in the summer of 2023, has been named the 2024 Jackie Robinson National League Rookie of the Year.
Skenes received 23 of a possible 30 first place votes for the award, beating out San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio for the nomination. Chicago Cubs pitcher Shoto Imanaga also received votes.
Skenes 2024 campaign was already special, and well, historic, and the Rookie of the Year award win makes it even more historic, as Skenes became the first pitcher in MLB history to win Rookie of the Year, start and All-Star Game and post a sub-2.00 ERA and 10.00-plus K/9, and not just in the same season folks, no one has done that across their entire career, ever.
The right-hander also became the first Pittsburgh Pirates player to win the award since outfielder Jason Bay won in 2004.
Skenes was revolutionary already in his short time with Pittsburgh, breaking through multiple Pirates rookie pitching records after debuting on May 11 versus Chicago, posting a 1.96 ERA with 170 strikeouts and a 0.95 WHIP in 133.0 IP.
Skenes joins pretty good company with this win as well, becoming the first National League starter to win the award since Jacob DeGrom in 2014.
The Rookie of the Year Award is the start for Skenes, who was also nominated as a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award alongside Atlanta Braves southpaw Chris Sale and Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zach Wheeler, and although he is not the odds on favorite to win the award, one could assume it won’t be the last time Skenes is a finalist for the Cy Young.
Congratulations of course to Paul Skenes on winning NL Rookie of the Year and if there was ever a time to consider extending the fireballer, what better time than now?
Steel City Pirates 