Pittsburgh Review

On Monday, the winners of the American League and National League Rookie of the Year Awards will be announced on MLB Network. The three finalists in the National League are Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, and Jackson Merrill. Each has made significant contributions to their teams during the 2024 season.

Paul Skenes, a right-handed pitcher for the Pirates, is also a finalist for the Cy Young Award. His performance this year has made him one of the most marketable players in Major League Baseball. "It’ll be fascinating to see where he is in jersey sales this time next year," an observer noted.

Jackson Chourio began his season as the youngest player in MLB, debuting just 18 days after turning 20. He quickly became a standout player for the Brewers, who won their division this year. "It was thrilling to watch him improve exponentially throughout the season," remarked an analyst.

Jackson Merrill emerged as a key leader for the Padres, providing clutch hits throughout the season. He played a crucial role in a team filled with veteran talent.

The NL rookie class also includes notable players from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Shota Imanaga of the Cubs and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers both made strong impressions in their first MLB seasons. Imanaga signed for $53 million and posted impressive numbers early in 2024, while Yamamoto overcame injuries to contribute significantly during the Dodgers' postseason run.

Promising pitching prospects like Spencer Schwellenbach (Braves), Jared Jones (Pirates), Tobias Myers (Brewers), and Gavin Stone (Dodgers) showed potential during their appearances this season. Schwellenbach had a solid ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratio over 21 starts, while Myers delivered a scoreless start in the NL Wild Card Series.

In terms of defensive prowess, Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Joey Ortiz (Brewers), Masyn Winn (Cardinals), and Jacob Young (Nationals) have been recognized as future Gold Glove contenders. Winn was particularly noteworthy with his high WAR among rookies and Gold Glove nomination at shortstop.

The league also saw impressive performances from sluggers like Michael Busch (Cubs), Tyler Fitzgerald (Giants), Andy Pages (Dodgers), and James Wood (Nationals). These players provided offensive power to their respective teams throughout 2024.

Additionally, Dylan Crews debuted late in the season for Washington Nationals but retains his rookie eligibility for 2025. Drafted second overall by Washington after his LSU teammate Skenes, Crews is expected to make further impact next year.