Does Paul Skenes Have a Shot to Win National League Rookie of the Year?
The Pittsburgh Pirates called up the first overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft pitcher Paul Skenes to the 40-man roster. He’s expected to make his debut on Saturday, during the second game of a three-game series against the divisional rival Chicago Cubs. The 21-year-old right-handed pitcher is ready to showcase his talents and why he was the number one pick in last year’s draft. Pittsburgh started off this season great going 11-5 in their first 16 games, since then they’ve gone 6-15 now at a record of 17-21. The Pirates are third in the NL Central division, five and a half games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place within the division. This seems like the perfect time to call up their number one draft pick, as the franchise, teammates, and fans, get behind Skenes and root for his undeniable success.
With the Pirates Triple-A team, the Indianapolis Indians, Skenes had seven starts on the mound in 2024. Through 27 and one-third innings, the young right-handed pitcher put up an incredible 0.99 ERA. He allowed four runs off of 17 hits while striking out 45 batters and with a WHIP of 0.91. Batters have a batting average of .175 against Skenes. It will be an integral part of the Pirates season to get their 21-year-old pitcher comfortable at the Major League level. He will have his ups and downs this season, but Pittsburgh hopes there will be more positives and an upward projection of full potential being seen by Skenes. Even in early May, there’s without a doubt the young Pirates pitcher can fly through the voting and be a finalist or win the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year Award.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said, "I don't claim that we have any sort of scientific master formula for how we're doing this. I don't know for sure that this plan is right. I can't say that." Cherington may not know if this is the right decision or not, but he does know his team needs all the help they can get. They must turn things around before the regular season crumbles like it has for the Pirates over the past few seasons. Skenes is the answer this Pittsburgh Pirates team needs right now whether that’s the right or wrong answer in the future, only time will tell.
