One Guardians Rookie Is Closing The Gap For Major MLB Award

There is a reason that they don’t give out major awards during the MLB season. They wait until the end because, more than any other sport, the campaign is a marathon and not a sprint, and teams and individuals are rightly rewarded for being able to navigate the entire 162-game schedule.

So, someone who looks like the best rookie in the league for a couple of months needs to sustain it. Also, one who can build up steam down the stretch may prove to be more deserving of recognition.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick has been a contender for AL Rookie of the Year since before the season began, based on his performance making his debut in 2025. Over the first five months, the left-hander has lived up to that billing.

But now, the talented Guardians rookie is closing the gap for the major MLB award, chasing Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle, who has been the front-runner for most of the year.

“More so than McGonigle slumping, Messick has closed in because he has been consistently outstanding, making him McGonigle’s biggest threat in Rookie of the Year honors and putting the lefty on the fringe of Cy Young consideration. In eight starts since the beginning of July, Messick has given up two earned runs or fewer in all of them while posting a 1.88 ERA,” Bradford Doolittle wrote.

Since 2016, when Michael Fulmer won AL Rookie of the Year for the Tigers, only one full-time pitcher has earned the award: Luis Gil for the New York Yankees in 2024. Shohei Ohtani pitched 10 games for the Los Angeles Angels when he won it in 2018.

For the Cleveland franchise, Herb Score is the only pitcher to win it, back in 1955. So, Messick could be on the verge of making some history.

In 26 starts, he is 10-8 with a 3.50 ERA that ranks fifth among major league starters. Messick has given up 116 hits and 41 walks with 156 strikeouts in 155.0 innings.

McGonigle remains the clear favorite with a .283 batting average. .814 OPS, 14 home runs and 56 RBIs. He has avoided any extended slump this season and has nine hits in his past seven games.

So, Messick may have his work cut out to overtake him, but there is still time for the Guardians pitcher to make his case.