The first half of the 2024 MLB season featured several memorable moments and breakout performances from some of the game’s top rookies.
In June, Yardbarker provided an early look at how each major award race was shaping up. With the second half of the season beginning Friday, here’s how the American League and National League Rookie of the Year races stand.
American League
Mason Miller, RHP, Oakland Athletics
Considering only five relief pitchers have earned AL Rookie of the Year honors, it’s likely a long shot Miller will take home the award. Even so, the All-Star closer deserves recognition, as no AL rookie has been more dominant as consistently as Miller, who has one of the most overpowering fastballs in baseball. Among all qualified relievers, Miller is first in fWAR (1.8), strikeouts (70) and SIERA (1.57) while ranking sixth in batting average against (.147) and 18th in saves (15).
Luis Gil, RHP, New York Yankees
Gil, the front-runner in our last AL Rookie of the Year rankings, performed like a potential Cy Young candidate to begin the season, posting a 1.99 ERA over his first 11 starts. Unfortunately for Gil, he hit a wall in June, likely due to his unfamiliar workload.
In five outings last month, Gil posted a 6.45 ERA, with his worst performance coming against Baltimore on June 20, during which he allowed seven earned runs in 1.1 innings. Although Gil remains the top rookie starting pitcher in the AL, he’ll need to rebound quickly to have a shot at winning the Rookie of the Year Award.
Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas Rangers
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Langford got off to a disappointing start to his rookie season, hitting just .222 with one inside-the-park home run and 13 RBI in his first 34 games. However, since returning from a hamstring injury on May 28, Langford has been on an impressive tear, batting .276 with four homers and 29 RBI over his past 41 games. The AL Rookie of the Year race is wide open, so if Langford can maintain his current momentum in the second half of the season, he could win the award.
National League
Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
It’s difficult to name anyone who has accomplished more in the past year than Skenes, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and the NL’s starting pitcher for the 2024 All-Star Game. Skenes and his devastating pitch arsenal have seamlessly transitioned to MLB, as the 22-year-old posted a 1.90 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 89 strikeouts in his first 11 starts. As long as his health permits, the Pirates’ ace should be the unanimous NL Rookie of the Year, and if he continues to excel in the second half, he could win his first Cy Young Award.
Jackson Merrill, OF, San Diego Padres
Skenes isn’t the only NL rookie who has performed like a seasoned veteran. The 21-year-old Merrill has also established himself as the best rookie center fielder in baseball and one of the top players at his position. Merrill slashed .278/.310/.435 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI in the first half of the season, which earned him a spot in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. According to StatsCentre, Merrill became the youngest player to participate in the All-Star Game since 2013.
Shota Imanaga, LHP, Chicago Cubs
Imanaga, the early front-runner for the NL Rookie of the Year Award, has struggled mightily over the past month and a half. After posting the lowest ERA through a player’s first nine career starts in MLB history (0.84), Imanaga — a star in Japan — has a staggering 5.61 ERA over his past eight outings, allowing nine home runs in that span. It’ll be interesting to see whether Imanaga can rebound strongly enough in the second half to help the Cubs (47-51) make a push for a playoff spot.
