Paul Skenes Running Away As Rookie of the Year Favorite

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Jul 9, 2024
Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Jared Jones
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitchers, from left, Jared Jones, Mitch Keller and Pul Skenes stand in the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 11, 2024. It was Paul Skenes' major league debut. The Pirates won 10-9. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

One year ago Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes with the first pick in the MLB Draft.

At the time, Skenes was coming off of a spectacular season in which he helped lead the LSU Tigers to the College World Series title.

Since then, Skenes breezed through the minor leagues and made his big-league debut on May 11. In 10 starts with the Pirates, the 22-year-old is a perfect 5-0 and has a 2.21 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched.

Though he is only scratching the surface as a major-leaguer, Skenes has already been selected as an All-Star for the first time a mere 10 starts into his career. Skenes is one of two players representing the Pirates at the All-Star Game this year along with Bryan Reynolds.

With everything he’s already shown in only a short period of time, Skenes is now -350 on the FanDuel sportsbook to be named this year’s Rookie of the Year. San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill, who is also an All-Star, is in second place at +320. Interestingly enough, five the top six favorites reside in the National League Central.

Fellow Pirates’ rookie right-hander Jared Jones has the 10th-best odds at +10,000. Jones’ odds took a dip after landing on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain. At the time he was placed on the IL, the Pirates said Jones would not throw for two weeks.

Skenes’ Rookie of the Year chances received a big boost after  his start against the New York Mets at PNC Park on Friday. Entering that game, Skenes was -280 on FanDuel to win the award but improved to 5-0 after holding the Mets to two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

The last time a Pirates’ player won the National League Rookie of the Year was Jason Bay in 2004. Bay hit .282 with a .904 OPS, 26 home runs and 82 RBIs in 120 games.

The American League Rookie of the Year race is currently much tighter. Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford (+135) is narrowly out in front against Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (+195).

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