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Paul Skenes’ historic rookie season has resulted in at least one major award. The ace was revealed as the on Monday. He’s the first Pirates player to earn the honor and just the franchise’s second ROY winner all time. Paul Skenes is your 2024 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year! — MLB (@MLB) Skenes to beat out fellow finalists in outfielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio. The other seven first-place votes went to Merrill, who placed second in voting with 104 total points ahead of Chourio’s 26. Chicago Cubs southpaw Shota Imanaga finished fourth with four points. Skenes made his big league debut on May 11, which was just a few weeks before his 22nd birthday and less than a year after Pittsburgh made him the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. He went on to make 23 starts as a rookie, sporting an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts over 133 innings. Skenes’ 1.96 ERA stands as the lowest among all rookie pitchers who made at least 23 starts in the live ball era, . Among qualified NL rookies this past season, Skenes led the way in ERA, WHIP (0.95), opponents’ batting average (.189) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.5). The right-hander also became just the fifth rookie pitcher to ever start an All-Star Game and the first No. 1 pick to start a Midsummer Classic the year after being drafted. Skenes could add more hardware to his trophy case later this week, as he’s also a finalist for NL Cy Young. Atlanta Braves southpaw Chris Sale and right-hander Zack Wheeler are the other two finalists. The Cy Young winners will be announced on Wednesday.
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