That Paul Skenes’ first MLB campaign was abbreviated, owing to his mid-May call-up by the Pittsburgh Pirates, threatened to weigh him down when individual accolades were on the table. Ultimately, a fashionably late arrival to the big leagues mattered little to the commissioner’s office and Skenes’ MLB peers, who voted him into the 2024 All-Star Game after he posted a sub-2.00 ERA over his first 11 starts.
Nor did it deter National League skipper Torey Lovullo, who, in selecting Skenes to start, made him the first rookie since 1995 — and the first Pirates pitcher — since 1975 to do so. On Monday, Skenes’ dominant season was also enough to sway the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which handed him the NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award. MLB Network announced Skenes’ victory live during a Monday evening broadcast.
Skenes, 22, went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts, striking out 170 in 133 innings while holding opposing batters to a .198 average.
The only NL pitcher finalist, Skenes edged San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio for the award. Four players (the aforementioned three plus Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga) received votes , with Skenes capturing 23 first-place and seven second-place tallies. Merrill finished as NL runner-up, with seven first-place and 23 second-place votes.
Later Monday night, New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil was announced as the American League winner. The awa.