Could pitchers win both ROY Awards for just the second time in 42 years?
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Pitchers rarely capture a Rookie of the Year Award. In the previous 10 seasons, just three of 20 Rookie of the Year winners were honored solely for their work on the mound, most recently the Brewers' Devin Williams in 2020.
Just once in the last 42 years have pitchers swept rookie accolades in the American and National Leagues -- the Rays' Jeremy Hellickson and the Braves' Craig Kimbrel in 2011 -- and it has happened just four times since both circuits began giving out an individual award in 1949. Based on the first six weeks of this season, 2024 might mark the fifth occasion.
The Athletics moved right-hander Mason Miller to the bullpen in an attempt to preserve his health, and the results have been spectacular. He leads all big leaguers in average fastball velocity (100.7 mph), pitches clocked at 100 mph or harder (97), swing-and miss percentage (49 percent, with equal rates on both his heater and slider) and strikeout percentage (54 percent). With a 1.26 ERA and eight saves in 12 appearances, he has rivaled outfielders Wilyer Abreu (Red Sox) and Colton Cowser (Orioles) as the AL's best rookies thus far.
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While Miller appears to be the lone realistic pitching contender in the AL, the NL is loaded with them. Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga has an invisible low-90s fastball and his 0.78 ERA is the fourth-lowest for a rookie though his first six starts (not including openers). Thanks to an upper-90s fastball and upper-80s slider, Pirates righty Jared Jones leads the Majors with a 10.4 K/BB ratio and 122 swings and misses.
After setting a new standard for pitchers by signing a $325 million contract in December, Dodgers righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto gave up five runs in one inning in his first start, but he has posted a 1.64 ERA since while pounding the zone with four offerings. And don't sleep on Giants lefty Kyle Harrison, who owns one of the game's most unhittable fastballs and is its youngest starter (six days younger than Jones at 22 years, 9 months).
And just think -- we haven't even seen Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh yet. That should happen soon.