Pittsburgh Review

The influence of rookie players on the baseball field has been increasingly significant, as demonstrated by recent statistics. According to FanGraphs, rookie hitters in 2024 contributed a total of 60.7 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), marking the third-highest figure in American League/National League history. Rookie pitchers reached a remarkable 77.5 WAR, the highest since 1884. Combined, these rookies achieved a total WAR of 138.2, surpassing the previous record set in 2015.

This year's All-Rookie Teams have been selected from this impressive pool of new talent. Among them is Paul Skenes from the Pittsburgh Pirates, who emerged as one of the most dominant starting pitchers despite debuting only in May. "He was one of the most dominant starting pitchers (rookie and non) in all of baseball once he arrived," noted an observer.

Other notable first-team selections include Austin Wells from the Yankees and Michael Busch from the Cubs. Wells found his place as a starter for the Yankees and impressed with his performance later in the season, while Busch excelled after being traded to Chicago.

On the second team, Adrian Del Castillo made an impression with his short stint at bat for the D-backs, hitting .313/.368/.893 with four homers over 25 games.

Rookies like Otto Lopez and Joey Ortiz also stood out this season due to their consistent performances on the field for their respective teams.

The list continues with other promising talents such as Shota Imanaga and Mason Miller who made significant contributions during their rookie campaigns.

The complete roster includes both established rookies and newcomers who are expected to continue impacting Major League Baseball significantly in future seasons.