Pirates’ Adam Frazier Details At-Bat Against Improved Paul Skenes

Paul Skenes is one of MLB’s most intimidating pitchers, and it appears he’s about to become even more dangerous on the mound.

Skenes currently is experimenting with two new pitches that eventually could be added to his arsenal: a cutter and a running two-seam fastball. The star right-hander already boasts an elite four-seam fastball and a nasty “splinker,” so adding either or both of those new pitches to his repertoire would make him even more challenging to face.

The 22-year-old threw live batting practice Saturday, and Adam Frazier bravely sought out to be the first hitter who his teammate faced. Skenes’ first pitch? The vaunted “splinker” that left Frazier motionless in the batter’s box.

“If you hit it, you’re hitting it straight in the ground,” Frazier told reporters, per ESPN. “So it’s like, ‘All right, strap it on and get ready.'”

Opposing hitters certainly had a tough time “getting ready” against Skenes last season. The fireballer put up tremendous rookie numbers, including an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA with 170 strikeouts over 133 total innings. Skenes’ filthy stuff played a big role in the National League naming him the starting pitcher for the MLB All-Star Game — an honor the LSU product very well could receive again in 2025.

Time will tell if Skenes can completely avoid a sophomore slump and stay on his upward trajectory. But Frazier and other Pirates surely must feel fortunate they don’t have to face Skenes in the regular season.