Paul Skenes of the Pirates won the NL Cy Young Award unanimously, becoming the second pitcher to win it the year after earning Rookie of the Year, and joining a select group of pitchers with such achievements. He joins a list of notable NL Cy Young winners and is the third Pirates pitcher to win the award. Skenes's 10-10 record is among the fewest wins for a Cy Young winner in a full season, and he is the first to win unanimously since the award's current voting system was adopted in 2010.
Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves won the National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year award, becoming the first catcher since 2010 to do so and the seventh overall in NL history, marking a significant achievement for the Braves with Baldwin being the only player on all ballots.
Shohei Ohtani will lead off as the designated hitter for the National League in the upcoming MLB All-Star Game, with Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh also featured prominently. The game highlights star power from players like Ohtani and Judge, emphasizing their roles as future faces of baseball. Starting pitchers include Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, both notable for their fastball velocities and recent achievements.
Skip Schumaker has been named the National League Manager of the Year after leading the Miami Marlins to their fourth postseason berth in franchise history. Despite being outscored by 57 runs, Schumaker guided the team to an impressive 33-14 record in one-run games, making a difference in a tight NL Wild Card race. In the American League, the Manager of the Year is yet to be announced.
Taijuan Walker pitched five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and two hits, but was pulled due to pitch count and the Phillies' strong bullpen. The Phillies have won seven of their last eight games and their bullpen has been a key factor in their success, with a 3.09 ERA since mid-April and the best ERA in the NL. Left-hander José Alvarado has rejoined the team after missing nearly a month, adding to the strong bullpen. The Phillies will need their bullpen as they face the Arizona Diamondbacks on a seven-game road trip.
