The Paul Skenes vs Jackson Merrill Rookie of the Year debates this offseason will shape how we evaluate the value of pitchers going forward.
Merrill is having a fantastic rookie season with the San Diego Padres, hitting for a .292/.323/.504 line in 563 plate appearances. That has led to a 4.9 fWAR from the center fielder, who has also shown decent defense at the position.
Skenes, meanwhile, has produced one of the best rookie seasons for a pitcher in the game’s history. He’s got a 2.07 ERA in 126 innings, and is not just the best rookie pitcher, but one of the best pitchers in the game this year.