Parker Messick Named Award Finalist as Changeup Dominates

Cleveland Guardians ace Parker Messick was named a finalist for the American League Outstanding Rookie Award alongside Kevin McGonigle and Munetaka Murakami. Messick's stellar rookie campaign was fueled by his elite changeup, which tied for second in MLB with 71 strikeouts on the pitch. His 86-mph changeup logged a .241 wOBA against and an 18.7% swinging-strike rate, serving as a primary counterpunch alongside his four-seam fastball.