On Monday, the National League Rookie of the Year Award was claimed by Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, defeating competition from San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio.

Skenes made his major league debut on May 11 this year, and his impact was felt immediately, leading to his selection as the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game on July 16.

The 22-year-old, who was the first overall selection in the 2023 amateur draft, concluded the season with an impressive record of 11 wins and 3 losses, alongside a striking 1.96 ERA over 23 starts. Over the span of 133 innings, he recorded 170 strikeouts while allowing just 32 walks.

In the voting, Skenes secured 23 first-place votes amassing a total of 136 points, while Merrill garnered seven first-place votes and reached 104 points. Both players were recognized on all ballots submitted. Chourio managed to collect 26 points in the voting.

Additionally, Skenes is being considered as a finalist for the prestigious NL Cy Young Award.

He becomes the second player from the Pirates to achieve this accolade, following Jason Bay’s win in 2004, and is also recognized as the 24th pitcher to earn this honor.

Merrill, only 21 years old, made a significant impact in the latter half of the season, prompting discussions about the merits of a regular position player versus a starting pitcher for the award.

Transitioning from shortstop to center field during spring training due to a limited roster, Merrill was named an All-Star and was instrumental in helping the Padres make it to the playoff rounds, where they triumphed over Atlanta in the Wild Card Series but were ultimately eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Division Series.

Meanwhile, Chourio showcased his prowess as a 20-20 player at just 20 years of age.