MLB
New York Yankees’ Luis Gil and Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes scoop MLB Rookie of the Year awards
It is the first time since 1981 that two starting pitchers have been crowned ‘Rookie of the Year’ in the MLB.
Major League Baseball has ceased activities and is now revealing the names of the most outstanding players of last season, with the presentation of the corresponding awards. It’s time to find out the winners of the Rookie of the Year award for 2024.
Luis Gil: American League Rookie of the Year
In the American League, New York Yankees Dominican pitcher Luis Gil won the Rookie of the Year award, beating teammate Austin Wells and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser in the American League voting. Gil stood out after the absence of the Bronx Bombers ace Gerrit Cole due to his injury at the beginning of the season.
Luis Gil finished the season with a 15-7 record, 3.50 ERA, 171 strikeouts, 77 walks (which turned out to be the most in the American League), 1.193 WHIP and 4.14 FIP in 151.2 innings of work.
The pitcher became the tenth player of the Manhattan Mules to win the award, and the first since Aaron Judge who won it in 2017.
“I’m so happy about being able to win this award,” Gil said. “Everybody in my corner, they’re so happy for me and so proud. I’m also proud of the opportunity that was given to me by the team and it turned out to be a good season for me, a great experience, and so excited. It just means so much to be in this space.”
Paul Skenes: National League Rookie of the Year
On the other side of the coin, in the National League, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates secured the distinction, after winning the race in the voting against Jackson Merrill, of the San Diego Padres and the Venezuelan of the Milwaukee Brewers, Jackson Chourio.
“It’s cool, and it’s an honor” Skenes said. “I think it’s just a product of showing up each day and doing the work, and I think the results are going to take care of themselves.”
Skenes, the first pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, posted a record of 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts;it should be mentioned that the 170 strikeouts achieved by the pitcher were a record for a rookie in the history of the franchise.
It’s been a productive few weeks for Skenes, who was named Baseball Digest’s National League Rookie of the Year earlier this month (with Gil taking the AL award) and Baseball America’s 2024 Rookie of the Year in October.
Paul Skenes The pitcher also became the fifth first-round pick to win the Rookie of the Year award. following in the footsteps of Bob Horner (1978), Darryl Strawberry (1983), Bryce Harper (2012) and Carlos Correa (2015).
Another interesting fact worth highlighting is that this is the first time since 1981 that two starting pitchers have won the Rookie of the Year in the MLB, when Mexican Fernando Valenzuela for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dave Righetti for the New York Yankees both collected the award.