It’s the first in likely and offseason full of accolades for Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes.
Baseball America has named Skenes it’s 2024 Rookie of the Year, the first Pirates player selected since Andrew McCutchen was in 2009.
Skenes went 11-3 this year with 170 strikeouts over 133 innings pitched. He also dazzled with an ERA under 2.00 (1.96) and a 0.95 WHIP over his 23 starts.
Hitters were batting only .198 against Skenes.
The 22-year-old made his MLB debut on May 11 and delivered on the hype that followed him after he was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh in 2023.
Skenes is also the first rookie since 1918 with at least 23 starts to post an ERA under 2.00.
He also started in this past summer's All-Star Game, only the fifth rookie to do that in history.
The future is bright for Paul Skenes, but for now, he’ll be racking up those rookie honors.
The MLB Rookie of the Year award will be announced later this offseason.
The last ROY to come out of Pittsburgh was Jason Bay in 2004.