Paul Skenes Named NL Cy Young Finalist
p/c: Gene J. Puskar
Rookie of the Year consideration isn’t the only thing Paul Skenes will be competing for, as the Pittsburgh Pirates ace was announced as a National League Cy Young finalist on Monday. Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves and Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies are the other finalists.
Following his much anticipated arrival to the big leagues on May 11th, Skenes lived up to the hype that made him the #1 overall pick in 2023. The 22-year-old righty put up 1.96 ERA - the lowest from a Pirates rookie pitcher - with a minimum of 20 starts - in the modern era. He also compiled 170 strikeouts in 133 innings, while registering a WHIP of 0.95.
Skenes becomes the first rookie starter to be named a Cy Young finalist since the late José Fernandez in 2013 with the Miami Marlins.
No pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 has captured both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors in the same year. Skenes will look to do so on November 18th.