Pittsburgh Review

Paul Skenes has been recognized for his remarkable rookie season by being named to the 2024 All-MLB First Team, presented by MGM Rewards. The Pittsburgh pitcher delivered an outstanding performance, setting a franchise record for strikeouts by a rookie and achieving an ERA unmatched by any rookie since the Dead Ball Era.

Skenes entered the 2024 season with high expectations as a top pitching prospect after leading LSU to a College World Series title in 2023 and being selected first overall in the draft. He met these expectations with an impressive record of 11-3, a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts, and 170 strikeouts across 133 innings.

His achievements earned him finalist positions for both the National League's Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award and the Cy Young Award. Skenes also became only the fifth rookie to start an All-Star Game for the NL, joining Hideo Nomo from 1995.

Among his accolades this season was being unanimously awarded the Steve Blass Award by Pittsburgh's Baseball Writers’ Association of America chapter. His ERA was noted as the lowest for a rookie making at least 20 starts since Reb Russell in 1913. Furthermore, his strikeout count broke Cy Blanton's longstanding Pirates' rookie record from 89 years ago. Baseball Digest also named him their NL Rookie of the Year.

Joining Skenes on the All-MLB First Team starting rotation are Chris Sale of the Braves, Tarik Skubal of the Tigers, Zack Wheeler of the Phillies, and Corbin Burnes of the Orioles. Skenes is notably the first Pirate to be named to this team since its inception in 2019.

The selection process for this honor involved fans contributing half of the votes while a panel of experts provided the other half. The choices were based solely on performances during the regular season without considering league affiliation.