Paul Skenes, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, lived up to all the hype surrounding him, even starting the All-Star Game just two months after his big league debut.
Luis Gil, on the other hand, was not a top prospect for the New York Yankees. He only earned a spot in the starting rotation after ace Gerrit Cole got hurt during spring training.
Skenes capped off an impressive season on Monday by winning the National League Rookie of the Year award by a wide margin. He beat out Jackson Merrill from San Diego and Jackson Chourio from Milwaukee.
In the American League, Gil won the Rookie of the Year, edging out Baltimore’s Colton Cowser, with Yankees catcher Austin Wells finishing third.
This is the first time since 2011 that two pitchers won the rookie awards, when Jeremy Hellickson from Tampa Bay and Craig Kimbrel from Atlanta were honored.
“I was super pleased with what happened this year in terms of going out there and competing, but there’s more work to be done for sure,” said Skenes, who planned to celebrate with his girlfriend, LSU gymnast and influencer Livvy Dunne.
The Pirates and their fans were excited when the team picked Skenes as the top pick in the 2023 draft. He didn’t make his MLB debut until May 11, but he was so impressive right away that he was chosen to start the All-Star Game for the National League on July 16.
Skenes, 22, finished the season with an 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts. He struck out 170 batters and walked 32 in 133 innings.
“I think it starts now. The postseason is flying by and I can’t wait for spring training to start already,” Skenes said. “I think the biggest thing is going to be proving it over a full season next year also. If nothing else it’s going to be a challenge and an opportunity to prove it again next year.”
Skenes received 23 first-place votes and finished with 136 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Merrill got seven first-place votes and 104 points. Chourio earned 26 points.
Skenes is also a finalist for the National League Cy Young Award. “On top of having a dominant first season, he handled the spotlight that came with it extraordinarily well,” said Pirates general manager Ben Cherington.
“He is constantly searching for ways to continue to get better, learns very fast, and wants nothing more than to win. He is a big part of the future of the Pirates, and we’re excited for what’s to come from him and our team.”
Skenes became the second Pirates player to win the Rookie of the Year award after Jason Bay in 2004.
Because he finished among the top two in voting, Skenes will be credited with a full year of major league service, not just 142 days, under the collective bargaining agreement. If he stays with the team, he would be eligible for free agency after the 2029 season.
Gil received 15 first-place votes and 106 points. Cowser got 13 first-place votes and 101 points, while Wells received 17 points.
The only previous closer election since 1980 was when Royals shortstop Angel Berroa beat Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui 88-84 in 2003.
Gil finished the season with a 15-7 record and a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts for the American League champions. He struck out 171 batters in 151 2/3 innings.
“It means so much to me. I’m so happy about being able to win this award,” Gil said through an interpreter. “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. It turned out to be a good season for me, a great experience.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Gil “worked so hard to put himself in a strong position heading into spring training after coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Without a guarantee of a major league spot, he absolutely kicked in the door this spring and went on to have a phenomenal rookie season.”
Merrill, 21, played well in the second half of the season, sparking a debate about whether an everyday player deserved the Rookie of the Year more than a pitcher.
Merrill was moved from shortstop to center field during spring training because the Padres had only two outfielders on their roster. He was picked for the All-Star team and helped the Padres make the playoffs, where they swept Atlanta in the Wild Card Series before losing to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series.
Chourio, at age 20, became a 20-20 player.
