The race for National League Rookie of the Year will likely come down to Jackson Merrill and Paul Skenes this season. But who deserves the award? Who has earned their way to the top? And lastly, why?
Jackson Merrill vs. Paul Skenes: The Race for NL Rookie of the Year
The Case for Jackson Merrill
The major league debut of Paul Skenes was one of the most anticipated events in the 2024 MLB season. Skenes has primarily delivered on the hype. However, Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres remains favored over Skenes to win Rookie of the Year. Merrill has largely overperformed this season and done things not many expected. He has hit 23 homers, driven in 83 runs, and has managed a sparkling .286 average, not to mention that he is just 21 years old.
Jackson Merrill is making history in his rookie campaign! pic.twitter.com/qXh5STzVbx
— MLB (@MLB) September 11, 2024
All that does not fully sum up Merrill’s contributions, however. He has started 142 games and has become one of the most valuable outfielders in MLB. The Padres have had a lot of great surprises this season, but amid underperformances and injuries, Merrill has helped his team a lot. His impact on the Padres season cannot be understated. Merrill has carried the team at times, and without him, the Padres may not currently have a Wild Card spot. Although Skenes’ numbers are undoubtedly impressive, the Pittsburgh Pirates remain out of playoff contention. The ROY award tends to go to the rookie who had the most significant impact on their team, and Merrill’s enormous impact on the Padres gives him an edge.
The Case for Paul Skenes
Paul Skenes struck out 151 batters in his first 20 big league games while allowing only 28 earned runs and no one’s ever done that before because of course they haven’t.
It’s completely ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/4Jmz7XmGvj
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) September 10, 2024
As a young pitcher, Skenes has not merely had good numbers; he has had great numbers. Despite another disappointing season for the Pirates, Skenes has managed a 10-2 record with a 2.10 ERA and 151 strikeouts through 20 starts. He also started the All-Star Game for the NL squad in July. Skenes has delivered on his hype, earning the win in half of his starts. The Pirates’ struggles this season fall on anyone but Skenes. And there is no doubt that Skenes would be a Cy Young contender if he had more starts. Unfortunately, Skenes only having 20 starts will hurt him in that race. Since Merrill had started almost every game for San Diego, it could hurt Skenes’ ROY chances as well.
Who Deserves the Award?
One of the biggest things when determining Rookies of the Year, MVPs, or even Cy Young Award winners is the player’s effect on their team. The Padres are not out of the woods yet in terms of securing a postseason spot. The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves sit right behind them in the NL Wild Card race. However, the Padres seem to be able to retain their postseason position at their current pace.
Merrill has given his team valuable performances that will help their hopes of reaching October and making a run. The Padres have been full of pleasant surprises, including Jurickson Profar, Michael King, and others. However, someone may not have affected their team more than Merrill. He has overperformed and deserves more consideration for Rookie of the Year than Paul Skenes. Skenes himself has done well, but nothing speaks more than having a big impact on a playoff team.
Photo Credit: © Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
