Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes on Monday capped a remarkable season by winning National League (NL) Rookie of the Year by a wide margin, while the New York Yankees pitcher picked up the American League award.
Skenes was the heralded fireballer who equaled the hype, to the point he started the All-Star Game just two months after making his big league debut, while Gil was an afterthought for the Yankees, earning a spot in their rotation only when ace Gerrit Cole was injured in spring training.
Skenes won by a wide margin over San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio. Gil edged Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser to take the American League honor, with Yankees catcher Austin Wells finishing third.
Photo: AP
It is the first time the rookie awards went to two pitchers since 2011, when Tampa Bay Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson and Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel won.
“I was super pleased with what happened this year in terms of going out there and competing, but there’s more work to be done for sure,” said Skenes, who planned to celebrate with his girlfriend, Louisiana State University gymnast and influencer Livvy Dunne.
The Pirates and their fans were excited from the moment the team selected Skenes with the top pick in last year’s amateur draft. He did not make his major league debut until May 11, but the right-hander was such an immediate sensation he was selected to start the All-Star Game for the NL on July 16.
The 22-year-old Skenes finished 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts. He struck out 170 and walked 32 in 133 innings.
He said he is looking forward to pitching a full season next year.
“I think it starts now. The post-season is flying by and I can’t wait for spring training to start already,” Skenes said. “I think the biggest thing is going to be proving it over a full season next year also.”
Skenes received 23 first-place votes and finished with 136 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, while Merrill had seven firsts and 104 points. They were listed on all entries.
Skenes, who is also a finalist for the NL Cy Young Award, is the second Pirates player to win the award after Jason Bay in 2004.
Gil received 15 first-place votes and 106 points, while Cowser got 13 firsts and 101 points.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
Defender Steph Catley says her UEFA Women’s Champions League title win with Arsenal last week will act as motivation to secure continental glory with Australia when the country hosts the Women’s Asian Cup next year. Catley and compatriots Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross were part of the Arsenal squad that defeated Barcelona in Lisbon on Sunday last week, before flying to Melbourne to feature in the Matildas’ 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday. The game was the first in a two-match series against the South Americans as the Australians continue preparations for the continental championship in March next year, when they would