Skenes beat outfielders Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres and Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers to become the first Pirate to win Rookie of the Year since Jason Bay in 2004 and the first NL starting pitcher to take home the award since Jacob deGrom in 2014.

Hard-throwing Pittsburgh Pirates ... deserved the award more than a starting pitcher. Merrill was converted from shortstop to center field during spring training, when the Padres had only two outfielders on their roster. Merrill was picked for the All ...

On a Clearwater, Fla., field in March, Aaron Boone looked around the visiting dugout as Luis Gil buzzed through a representative Phillies lineup. “I kept turning, like, anyone else seeing this?” the Yankees manager said this spring.