In a season brimming with electrifying rookie performances, one young phenom stood head and shoulders above the rest. Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching prodigy, has been crowned the National League Rookie of the Year after a debut campaign that rewrote the record books and left fans and pundits alike awestruck.
A Historic Debut
Skenes, who burst onto the scene less than a year after being selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, didn’t just meet the lofty expectations placed upon him—he obliterated them. The 22-year-old right-hander posted a minuscule 1.96 ERA across 23 starts, the lowest mark for any rookie with at least 20 starts in the Live Ball Era (since 1920).
But Skenes’ dominance didn’t stop there. He racked up 170 strikeouts, a Pirates rookie record, while maintaining an otherworldly 0.95 WHIP. His 4.3 fWAR placed him firmly among the league’s elite hurlers. In short, Skenes didn’t just perform like a top rookie; he performed like a bona fide ace from day one.
Outshining a Stellar Field
In most years, fellow finalists Jackson Merrill and Jackson Chourio would have been shoo-ins for the Rookie of the Year hardware. Merrill, the Padres’ precocious center fielder, slashed .292/.326/.500 with 24 homers and 16 steals while flashing leather in the outfield. Chourio, meanwhile, overcame a slow start to post a 20/20 season as a 20-year-old, an unprecedented feat.
But even their herculean efforts couldn’t match Skenes’ sustained brilliance on the mound. The LSU product garnered 23 of the 30 first-place votes, with Merrill claiming the remaining seven. It was a resounding endorsement of Skenes’ unparalleled impact.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Skenes’ meteoric rise reached its apex at the All-Star Game in Arlington, where he became just the fifth rookie ever to start the Midsummer Classic. Facing a murderers’ row of Gunnar Henderson, Juan Soto, and Aaron Judge, Skenes showcased his trademark “splinker”—a devastating splitter-sinker hybrid—and touched 100 mph on the radar gun. Though he walked Soto, Skenes emerged unscathed, setting the tone for the NL squad.
He’s got the poise of a ten-year vet out there. It’s easy to forget he’s just a kid.
— An NL All-Star teammate on Skenes’ mound presence
The Future Is Now
While the Pirates fell short of a postseason berth, Skenes’ emergence provides a beacon of hope for a franchise seeking to return to relevance. With their ace firmly entrenched atop the rotation, Pittsburgh can build around a true cornerstone talent.
As for Skenes himself, the sky appears to be the limit. Armed with a deep repertoire, pinpoint command, and an insatiable competitive drive, he seems poised to terrorize NL hitters for years to come. The Rookie of the Year award may be just the first of many accolades in what promises to be a special career.
This is just the beginning. I’m not satisfied. I want to bring a championship to Pittsburgh.
— Paul Skenes on his rookie season and future aspirations
For now, though, Pirates fans can bask in the glow of Skenes’ historic achievement. Their rising star has officially arrived, and baseball’s landscape may never be the same.
