Pittsburgh Review

Paul Skenes has been named the National League's Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The announcement came after a remarkable season where Skenes, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, stood out as one of baseball's top rookies.

"It's cool," Skenes remarked in a Zoom interview. "It's an honor. I think it's just a product of showing up each day and doing the work, and I think the results are going to take care of themselves.”

Skenes received 23 out of 30 first-place votes, surpassing competitors Jackson Merrill from the Padres and Jackson Chourio from the Brewers. This achievement makes him only the second player from the Pirates to win this award since Jason Bay in 2004.

In his debut season, Skenes achieved an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and struck out 170 batters over 133 innings. His performance included starting in the All-Star Game for the National League, demonstrating his immediate impact on Major League Baseball.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton praised Skenes: “What stands out the most is that he was one of the best pitchers in baseball in what was ultimately his first full professional season.” Shelton highlighted Skenes' sub-2.00 ERA and All-Star Game start as significant accomplishments.

Skenes led all National League pitchers with at least 130 innings pitched in several categories: ERA (1.96), strikeout rate (33.1%), WHIP (0.95), and strikeout rate minus walk rate (26.8%). He also set a new rookie record for strikeouts within his team.

Reflecting on his journey through his rookie year, Skenes noted how he learned to manage expectations: “I really didn’t know what the expectations were ... other than what I had for myself and what the organization communicated to me,” he said.

Looking ahead, Skenes plans to extend his time on the mound next season by pitching longer into games. With aspirations high for next year, he expressed enthusiasm about beginning preparations during this offseason.

“I think it's a cool opportunity for myself and I think it's a cool opportunity for the city of Pittsburgh,” said Skenes during a conference call with BBWAA writers.

As for celebrating his recent accolade? “Going to sleep early and getting back to work tomorrow,” stated Skenes, underscoring his commitment to continuous improvement.