Paul Skenes wins WFBL Pete Rose Award 

Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Paul Skenes was named today as winner of the Pete Rose Award given to the WFBL Rookie of the Year. In voting among league GM's, Skenes was the runaway choice, scoring 139 voting points led by first-place nods from 12 of the 18 voters. Fellow A's rookie teammate Jackson Chourio received 69 points and two first-place votes to finish second.

The 22-year-old Skenes becomes the second-ever rookie from the Athletics to take home the honors. Mike Trout won it previously for the club back in 2012. "It's a tremendous honor," said Skenes. "It was definitely a goal. I wasn't sure if not getting called up until early May would set back my chances. But it all worked out. And for Jackson to finish second, that's great for him and says a lot for our ball club going forward."

Skenes was selected by Athletics GM Matt Veasey with the third overall pick in the first round of the 2023 WFBL Minors Draft, one slot after outfielder Wyatt Langford was chosen by the club. "Just fantastic for Paul. He absolutely deserves it. Jackson would have been a great choice as well," said Veasey. 

"I'm really glad that the voters saw how much these two meant to the big improvements our club made in the second half," added A's manager Mark DeRosa. "What a fantastic crop of kids we brought in this year. Can't say enough about what it means for our future."

In addition to Skenes and Chourio, Langford also debuted. He might have made the GM ballot as well had he not suffered a May injury that knocked him out for three-and-a half weeks, though Langford has cooled considerably since sparking the club for a month after his return. Second baseman Colt Keith, right fielder James Wood, and injured starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto made up the rest of that talented rookie crop referred to by DeRo.

Earlier in the week, Skenes was named the organization's Lefty Grove Award winner as the team's top pitcher this season. Chourio took the Jimmy Foxx Award as the club's top offensive player. It marks the first time that a rookie won either award, let alone both.

There is more to come from the Athletics farm system as well in 2025. If the 6-4 record over the final 10 games, some of those four losses coming in very close, tough fashion, the team will be shooting to return to the postseason as it continues to bring along talented youngsters in the third year of a major rebuilding program.