ST. LOUIS – Masyn Winn, a young standout who claimed the St. Louis Cardinals’ starting shortstop role last season, was shut out in this year’s Rookie of the Year voting.

Behind stout defense and consistent offense, Winn led the Cardinals in Wins Above Replacement (a key metric measuring a player’s overall value to their specific team) with a 4.9 ranking, which also finished among MLB’s Top 30 players.

However, Winn did not receive a first-, second- or third-place vote in Major League Baseball’s 2024 National League Rookie Of The Year race.

Unlike some years, the National League’s rookie class was exceptionally competitive.

Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates rising star and 2023 first-overall pick who cruised to an 11-3 record, 170 strikeouts a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts, comfortably won NL Rookie of the Year honors with 23 of 30 first-place votes. Jackson Merrill and Jackson Chourio, young outfielders who enjoyed big first seasons with the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers, followed right behind.

A majority of votes for the NL’s top rookie ranked Skenes as the winner, Merrill as the runner-up and Chourio for third place. Merill received seven first-place votes and 23 second-place votes. Chourio received 26 of 30 possible third-place votes.

Only one other rookie challenged Chourio for third-place votes. Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga earned four. No other NL rookies from last season, including Masyn Winn, received votes.

Thirty voters from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America had the opportunity to choose the National League’s and American League’s three top rookies in the 2024 MLB season.

Perhaps the Cardinals’ mediocre 83-79 record in 2024 may have contributed to Winn being overlooked in the voting, though the rookies who finished ahead of him all undoubtedly has strong cases.

Even so, Winn frequently proved to be a bright spot in a lackluster Cardinals season, thriving in the leadoff spot of the batting order and showing impressive range and a rocket arm on defense. Winn’s 14 defensive runs saved last season ranked among the Top 15 in Major League Baseball. The 22-year-old also flirted with a .300 batting average for much of the year and led St. Louis with 85 runs scored.

Winn may have fared better against the American League’s competition had that been in play for his rookie season.

Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil narrowly won AL top rookie honors with 15 first-place votes. Seven candidates, unlike four in the NL, received at least a third-place vote or better.

MLB will announce winners for Manager of the Year, Cy Young and MVP races in the American League and National League in the upcoming days.