The MLB announced on Monday night the winners of the highly anticipated 2024 Rookie of the Year awards, with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes claiming the title for the National League and New York Yankees' hurler Luis Gil taking home the honor for the American League. This marks the first time since 2011, when Craig Kimbrel and Jeremy Hellickson won, and the first occurrence since 1981 where both Rookies of the Year are starting pitchers.
Paul Skenes, barely 10 months removed from being the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, has made significant waves as one of the most promising young talents the sport has seen. Accepting the award via Zoom, Skenes expressed immense gratitude for the recognition, highlighting how important consistent hard work has been to his success. He stated, "It's truly an honor to be named one of the best rookies. It’s all about showing up every day and doing the work. The results just follow from there." His inaugural season stats included an impressive 11 wins against 3 losses, leading all National League pitchers with a stellar 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts.
For Skenes, the results were not just coincidental but rather the product of commitment and determination. Over the season, he led the league with key metrics including strikeout rate, WHIP, and strikeout rate minus walk rate. His errors were few, holding opponents to just a .198 batting average against him. His standout performances included earning the start for the National League All-Star Team and being recognized as one of three finalists for the NL Cy Young Award. Pirates owner Bob Nutting commented on Skenes' unexpected performance, noting, "While expectations for Paul were certainly high, he exceeded what most thought was possible during his first Major League season."
On the flip side, Luis Gil has also made notable strides after undergoing Tommy John surgery and sitting out the previous season. He finished his 2024 season with 15 wins and 7 losses, sporting a 3.50 ERA and astounding 171 strikeouts over what has become a pivotal year for him. Yankees manager Aaron Boone hailed Gil’s effort, particularly his strong comeback, stating, "Luis kicked down the door this spring and went on to have phenomenal success. He’s matured as a pitcher and became one of the cornerstones of our rotation. I can’t wait to see what's next for him."
Gil's solid season not only helped secure his Rookie of the Year title but also contributed significantly to the Yankees' success as they clawed their way to the World Series. Despite stiff competition from Baltimore Orioles' outfielder Colton Cowser and his Yankees teammate Austin Wells, Gil's impact on the mound was clearly evident. CBSSports noted it was one of the closest rookie award races ever, with Gil edging Cowser by just five points, gathering 15 first-place votes against Cowser's 13.
Paul Skenes is recognized as the Pittsburgh Pirates' second Rookie of the Year, following Jason Bay's honor back in 2004. With the baseball season winding down and awards season revving up, MLB awards presentations will continue throughout the week, including the Manager of the Year awards, which are set to be announced tonight, followed by the Cy Young Awards on Wednesday, and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards on Thursday.
Both Skenes and Gil have demonstrated remarkable talent and resilience this season, setting them up for bright futures within their respective teams as they look to build upon their individual successes. With MLB fans eagerly anticipating the next season, these young stars may just be laying the foundation for record-breaking careers. Skenes, impressed with his performances, looks forward to proving himself over more extended gameplay next year, and both pitchers are expected to have proliferative offseasons to prepare for new challenges.
