Pittsburgh Review

In the 2024 Major League Baseball season, several rookies made significant impacts on their respective teams, leading to a competitive race for the Rookie of the Year Award in both leagues. The American League finalists are Colton Cowser from the Orioles and Yankees players Luis Gil and Austin Wells. In the National League, Paul Skenes of the Pirates is joined by Jackson Merrill from the Padres and Jackson Chourio from the Brewers.

Colton Cowser's performance for the Orioles was notable, with his power at bat being a standout feature. He hit 24 home runs, tying with Merrill for most among MLB rookies. Cowser also excelled defensively as a Gold Glove Award finalist in left field. His manager, Brandon Hyde, praised his performance: “I'm on the Cowser Rookie of the Year bandwagon.”

Yankees' pitcher Luis Gil demonstrated potential as a frontline starter by maintaining a 15-7 record with a 3.50 ERA over 29 starts. His ability to hold opponents to a low batting average led him to lead AL pitchers in this category.

Catcher Austin Wells of the Yankees showed promise in his rookie year, achieving respectable stats including 13 home runs and placing well among AL rookies in various offensive categories.

In the National League, Jackson Chourio's season turned around after early struggles. From June onward, he posted impressive numbers and played pivotal roles in key games for the Brewers. Willy Adames commented on Chourio’s emergence: “He’s showing he’s superstar material to the world.”

Jackson Merrill of the Padres had an outstanding season across multiple statistical categories and delivered clutch performances that were crucial during tight playoff races.

Paul Skenes emerged as a frontrunner early on due to his historic pitching statistics for a rookie pitcher during what was largely considered an exceptional season. Alex Stumpf highlighted Skenes’ impact: "Skenes had one that should win five times out of five."

The winners will be announced Monday at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network.