PHOENIX – National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes was elected to the eight-member executive subcommittee of the Major League Baseball Players’ Association on Wednesday, just six months after making his big league debut.
Also new to the committee are American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth, Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt, Rays pitcher Pete Fairbanks and Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins. Rangers infielder Marcus Semien and Reds pitcher Brent Suter will both remain on the committee.
The MLBPA confirmed that all eight had been elected to two-year terms. Representatives from each of the 30 MLB teams vote for the leadership positions.
Lance McCullers Jr., Jack Flaherty, Ian Happ, Austin Slater, Francisco Lindor and Lucas Giolito are the six players who completed their two-year terms and will now leave the executive subcommittee.
Flaherty, Giolito and Happ were among the players who in March called for the ouster of deputy director Bruce Meyer, the union’s chief labor negotiator. The effort, led by attorney Harry Marino, ultimately proved unsuccessful.
Players union head Tony Clark vowed to keep the union’s deliberations internal this summer.
The 22-year-old Skenes was called up in May and finished with an 11-3 record and 1.96 ERA. LSU’s 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick started the All-Star Game just two months after being promoted.
Semien is the longest-serving member and has held this position since December 2020. Suter was elected in 2022.
The union is holding its annual series of meetings this week in Scottsdale, Arizona.
