Pitcher Paul Skenes and pitcher Luis Gil have won their respective league’s 2024 Rookie of the Year Awards. The awards were announced Monday night on MLB Network.
Paul Skenes is the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year
Paul Skenes is your 2024 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year! pic.twitter.com/dkQkLZi7t0
— MLB (@MLB) November 18, 2024
Skenes, a 22-year-old right-handed starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was 11-3 in 23 starts. The reason his record isn’t far better is due to poor support from a mediocre team. He gave up just 11 earned runs in his 10 no-decisions. Lighting up the radar gun with every outing, Skenes had a 1.96 ERA to go with a 0.947 WHIP and 5.9 WAR, striking out 11.5 batters per nine innings. The latter statistic translated to an incredible 33.1 percent strikeout rate and an outstanding 11.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Despite not beginning his major league career until May 11, the hard-throwing Skenes was selected to start the All-Star Game for the National League. He’s also a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award to be announced on Wednesday.
Let’s put a couple of his statistics into perspective. Opponents hit just .198/.257/.295 against Skenes. Mario Mendoza of the famed Mendoza Line hit .215/.245/.262 for his career. That’s right, sports fans, every batter was Mario Mendoza when Skenes was on the hill. Skenes also registered a 214 ERA+, indicating he was 114 percent better than the major league average. The career ERA+ leader is Hall of Fame reliever Mariano Rivera with 205. It’s all come fast for Skenes, who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023.
Attired as a Wall Street executive, the low-key Skenes reacted to the award on live television by stating lugubriously, “This is cool.” His famous girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, showed more emotion than the pitcher. Would there be a party? “I got some people here,” he told the TV crew.
Skenes is the second Pirate ever to win the Rookie of the Year Award. The first was Jason Bay in 2004. If Skenes stays healthy, this should be the first of many postseason awards to come his way.
Luis Gil is the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year
Luis Gil is your 2024 American League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year! pic.twitter.com/4bhKW4xdQ4
— MLB (@MLB) November 18, 2024
New York Yankees right-handed pitcher Gil, a late bloomer at 26, was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.193 WHIP, and 3.1 WAR in 29 starts. He had a taste of the majors in 2021 and 2022 and entered 2024 with his rookie status still intact. In 2024, Gil led all AL rookies in wins and was tied with 171 strikeouts. He was second-best in the AL in allowing 6.17 hits per nine innings. Gil held opponents to a .189/.297/.345 slash line, with the batting average against him the lowest in the AL. Gil is the 10th Yankee to win the award. The most recent was teammate Aaron Judge in 2017.
Gil was a godsend for the Yankees. When ace Gerrit Cole went down with an injury that kept him from the mound until June 19, the Yankees needed a starter to step up. To say the right-hander Gil stepped up in a high-pressure environment would be an understatement. Although the Yankees led the AL with 94 wins, Gil arguably saved their season. He looks to be a rotation stalwart for many more years.
Gil, in a skull cap and silver chain, was not as blasé about the award as Skenes. Leaned forward anxiously in his chair, he clapped and smiled. In his remarks through his interpreter, he was humble and gave credit to catcher Austin Wells, who was also a finalist for the award.
The Runners-Up
Skenes had 23 first-place votes compared to the runner-up, outfielder Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres, who garnered seven first-place votes. Poor Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, born in the wrong year. Either one was a surefire winner in most other seasons. All 30 voters had Skenes and Merrill in the top two spots. Unfortunately for Chourio, he was as serious a candidate as Ralph Nader for President in 2000 despite strong qualifications.
Gil won a close vote, 106-101, over left fielder Colton Cowser of the Baltimore Orioles. Gil had 15 first-place votes as opposed to Cowser’s 11. Oddly, neither appeared on all 30 ballots.
Photo Credit: © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
