How Paul Skenes Impressed Pirates Throughout Final Month Of Season

The Pittsburgh Pirates have watched rookie pitcher Paul Skenes blossom as one of MLB’s brightest stars, and even with this season winding down, the All-Star right-hander continues to raise the bar (somehow) in the final weeks of this year’s campaign.

Skenes continued to produce during an impressive introductory year in the big leagues, so far logging a 2.07 ERA in 126 innings pitched, which isn’t just among the best for rookies, but places Skenes in the conversation with the most elite arms in baseball. The 22-year-old ranks second among pitchers who’ve thrown at least 100 innings this season in ERA along with 158 strikeouts. The National League Rookie of the Year candidacy goes without saying, but more importantly, Skenes built a strong foundation for establishing himself as a true future stud on the bump for years to come in Pittsburgh. Even though playoff contention isn’t within reach for the Pirates, Skenes provided the club with plenty to look forward to in 2025 and beyond.

“What he’s doing is close to historic with the numbers he’s putting up and how he’s handling himself,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton told MLB Network Radio. “… To think that he’s 19 or 20 starts or whatever he is into his big league career plus almost a sub-2.00 ERA, I mean, obviously he’s very important to us and just proud of the way he’s handling himself near the end of the season.”

Shelton added: “The biggest thing in-game is his ability to adjust. You just don’t see that with a young pitcher. That’s something that has to be developed. It’s something that, at times, takes years to develop. He really is very far along in that regard.”

Very few pitchers, historically, adjust as quickly and successfully as Skenes has this season. His 202 ERA-plus ranks Skenes second all-time in MLB history from a rookie pitcher in the divisional era, behind Steve Rogers (245, 1973) and ahead of José Fernández (176, 2013), Michael Soroka (171, 2019) and Roy Oswalt (170, 2001). Skenes hasn’t just taken Pittsburgh, but baseball entirely by storm with an impact that prompts the case for optimism in Pittsburgh. He’s only made 21 appearances thus far, but whenever it’s Skenes’ turn to take the mound, it’s become apparent that “Skenes Day” is must-watch TV.

Skeenes is scheduled to next take the mound Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds.

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