Pirates ace Paul Skenes makes feelings known about MLB 2024 Rookie of the Year win

On Sunday, January 25, Pittsburgh Pirated ace Paul Skenes formally accepted his NL Rookie of the Year award at the 100th annual Baseball Writer's Dinner in New York City.

After accepting his award, Skenes talked about how he was honored to be receiving the prestigious prize and how he was planning to keep improving further. He joked he was going to make "voting much easier" in the coming seasons.

"I am very excited and truly honored to win this award. I want to start by saying thank you to all the writers who voted and organized this wonderful dinner. I am honored to have won this award, and I recognize it would not have been possible had you all not voted for me." Paul Skenes said.

"It is my goal and intention to make voting very easy for you in the coming years. I want to thank god for giving me health and the ability to pursue what I love at a very high level." Paul Skenes added

Paul Skenes thanked his parents, Craig and Karen Skenes, and his girlfriend, Olivia Dunne, who were all in attendance to cheer him on. Further, Skenes also thanked his teammates, the Pirates' coaching staff, and fans, closing by saying that he can't wait to see what the new season has in store, and how he can't wait to potentially be accepting another award this time next year.

---

Paul Skenes lays out plan of action to improve further in 2025 season

Shortly after Skenes was named the winner of the NL Rookie of the Year award in November of 2024, he talked about how he planned to keep improving further in the 2025 season.

"The biggest thing (I can improve on) is just pitching more," Skenes said (0:14). "I was on six days this year, and it was pretty much 'he (Skenes) is going to go out there and give you six innings'. I'm hoping next year it's going to be (that I) go out every five days, and it's going to be seven or eight (innings)."

"That's kind of the end goal that I'm looking at, being out on the mound more, being able to pitch more and really be a workhorse. Now, I know what it takes, I know what the big league season's like, so really just got to keep rolling with that, take what I learned and get better with it. Then we'll figure out ways to get hitters out more efficiently, but that's kind of the end goal." Paul Skenes said, in conversation with Dani Wexelman of MLB Network

Pirates fans will be hoping Skenes can continue on the upward trajectory that he is on, and can help his team to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.