Paul Skenes is officially a finalist for the National League Rookie of the Year award, while two New York Yankees are among the three finalists on the American League side.
Each league’s trio of finalists were revealed on Monday night. Skenes, the star Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher, is up against Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio and San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill.
Skenes is the leading candidate in the National League after claiming the award from multiple publications since the end of his first season.
The No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes was promoted from the minors to the Pirates’ rotation on May 11. He led baseball in ERA from that point forward and became the fifth rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game.
Skenes, 22, was 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, 170 strikeouts and 0.95 WHIP in 2024.
Merrill had 162 hits in 156 games, batting .292 with 61 extra-base hits (24 home runs, 31 doubles, six triples) and 90 RBIs.
Chourio, in his first year in the big leagues for Milwaukee, batted .275 with 21 homers, 79 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 148 games, splitting his time between left and right field.
A starting pitcher is also favored on the AL side. Yankees right-hander Luis Gil, who had seven career appearances before 2024, quickly earned a spot in the team’s starting rotation and finished the year with a 15-7 record, a 3.50 ERA, 171 strikeouts and a league-high 77 walks in 151 2/3 innings. He had 17 starts with one run or zero runs allowed.
His New York batterymate Austin Wells appeared in 115 games and hit .229 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs. The third AL finalist is Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser, who became an everyday player for the O’s and batted .242 with 24 homers and 69 RBIs in 153 games.
MLB will announce the winners in both leagues on Nov. 18.
Gil and Skenes were named rookies of the year in their respective leagues by Baseball Digest earlier this month.
AL Rookie of the Year winners since 2014
2023 Gunnar Henderson Baltimore SS
2022 Julio Rodriguez Seattle OF
2021 Randy Arozarena Tampa OF
2020 Kyle Lewis Seattle OF
2019 Yordan Alvarez Houston OF
2018 Shohei Ohtani Angels DH
2017 Aaron Judge Yankees RF
2016 Michael Fulmer Detroit SP
2015 Carlos Correa Houston SS
2014 Jose Abreu White Sox1B
NL Rookie of the Year winners since 2014
2023 Corbin Carroll Arizona LF
2022 Michael Harris II Atlanta CF
2021 Jonathan India Cincinnati 2B
2020 Devin Williams MilwaukeeRP
2019 Pete Alonso NY Mets 1B
2018 Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta CF
2017 Cody Bellinger Dodgers 1B
2016 Corey Seager Dodgers SS
2015 Kris Bryant Cubs 3B
2014 Jacob deGrom NY Mets SP