Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Yankees pitcher Luis Gil have been awarded the Rookie of the Year honors, showcasing their impressive performances during the 2023 MLB season.
Skenes triumphed over San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, garnering 23 first-place votes for a total of 136 points. Merrill secured seven first-place votes for 104 points, while Chourio finished with 26 points.
Gil played a pivotal role in the Yankees’ journey to clinch the American League East title before advancing to the World Series. After ace Gerrit Cole suffered an injury early in the season, Gil stepped up, earning 15 first-place votes for 106 points. Outfielder Cowser received 13 firsts for 101 points, while Gil’s teammate Austin Wells garnered 17 points.
The tight competition for the award echoed a historical moment in 2003 when Royals shortstop Angel Berroa narrowly defeated Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui 88-84.
This marks the first time since 2011 that the Rookie of the Year awards have been claimed by two pitchers, a feat previously achieved by Tampa Bay’s Jeremy Hellickson and Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel.
Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes quickly proved his worth. The 22-year-old made his major league debut in May and became an instant sensation, posting an impressive 1.64 ERA over a 12-start span from May to July, including a remarkable seven-inning no-hitter.
Skenes’ stellar performance on the mound captivated sports fans throughout the summer, earning him an All-Star selection and the honor of starting for the National League in the 2024 All-Star Game, making him only the fifth rookie pitcher to achieve this milestone.
He concluded the season with an impressive 11-3 record, a 1.96 ERA, a 0.947 WHIP, and 170 strikeouts across 133 innings in 23 starts. His remarkable rookie year has earned him a spot as one of the three finalists for the NL Cy Young Award, set to be announced on Wednesday.
Skenes becomes only the second Pirates player to win the National League Rookie of the Year award, following Jason Bay’s victory in 2004. He is also the 24th pitcher in history to claim this honor.
Amidst Cole’s absence, Gil provided much-needed stability to the Yankees’ rotation. He finished the season with a 15-7 record, a 3.50 ERA, a 1.193 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts in 151.2 innings over 29 starts. Although he made two postseason starts, he did not receive a decision in either game.
Gil’s journey to the majors began in August 2021, and after an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, he returned to the mound in the final month of the 2023 season, having only pitched in Triple-A last year, which kept him eligible for the Rookie of the Year award in 2024.
With this recognition, Gil becomes the 10th Yankees player to win the Rookie of the Year award and the first Yankees pitcher to achieve this since Dave Righetti in 1981. Prior to Gil, Aaron Judge was the last Yankees player to secure the award in 2017.
