Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes and New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil were named the National League and American League rookies of the year, respectively. Skenes, the top pick in the 2023 draft, had a standout season with an 11-3 record and 1.96 ERA in 23 starts. He also made it to the All-Star Game. On the other hand, Gil, who joined the Yankees’ rotation after Gerrit Cole’s injury, went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts.
Skenes became the second Pirates player to win the award, following Jason Bay in 2004. Both pitchers received strong competition for the award, with Skenes beating out outfielders Jackson Merrill of the Padres and Jackson Chourio of the Brewers, while Gil edged out Baltimore’s Colton Cowser.
Despite being a pitcher, Merrill was in contention for the NL Rookie of the Year after being converted from shortstop to center field during spring training. He had a strong second half of the season and played a key role in helping the Padres reach the playoffs.
The awards mark the first time since 2011 that both NL and AL Rookie of the Year awards have been won by pitchers. Skenes and Gil’s achievements have been recognized by baseball writers and fans alike, setting the stage for promising futures in the majors.
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