In his first two MLB seasons, Paul Skenes has won the National League Rookie of the Year Award and the NL Cy Young Award.
Not bad!
Before he embarks on his third season with the Pirates, Skenes will lead Team USA’s strong rotation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, looking to claim the championship for the second time in tournament history.
Skenes has started the last two All-Star Games for the NL and has the potential to be one of the top pitchers of all time.
It’s a lot to put on the shoulders of a 23-year-old, but Skenes has answered every question that comes his way.
As MLB prepares for what is likely to be its last season before a considerable lockout, ESPN ranked the Top 100 players in baseball.
Skenes, of course, made the list… but the question is, where?
ESPN said that more than two dozen ESPN employees submitted their ballots that comprised the total ranking. Skenes had his number called at No. 6.
“Since May 11, 2024, the day he arrived in the big leagues, Skenes has found himself squarely in the conversation for ‘Best Pitcher in the World.’ And the numbers back Skenes’ claim to that title,” ESPN insider Jeff Passan said.
Skenes will make two starts in the WBC and is in line to pitch for the Americans in the semifinals, as long as Team USA gets there.
The 2023 No. 1 overall pick out of LSU earned a 1.97 ERA last season and struck out a Pirates right-handed pitcher record 216 batters in 187.2 innings. He only allowed 41 earned runs and earned a total 0.95 WHIP.
“Since his debut, he has the best ERA in the sport by nearly four-tenths of a run (1.96), the fourth-lowest home run rate (0.59 per nine innings), the sixth-best strikeout rate (10.83 per nine), the hardest average fastball (98.5 mph), and, even with restrictions on his output, the 10th-most innings (320.2),” ESPN wrote.
2025 may have been the first of many NL Cy Young Awards for Skenes, who is under contract through 2029. Two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal finished two spots ahead of Skenes.
Skenes is in elite company, with Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Bobby Witt Jr. the top three players. Juan Soto ranks right ahead of Skenes at fifth.
“What’s scary is that this is just the beginning,” Passan said. “Health permitting, Skenes will be an all-time great.”
Passan expects Skenes to considerably improve his win-loss record in 2026 from his stunning 10-10 mark as the best pitcher in the NL.
He projected Skenes to finish the regular season 18-4 with 251 strikeouts and 48 walks in 206 innings. This would mark Skenes’ highest total in each category.
Passan also noted in his prediction that Skenes will record a 2.03 ERA, which would also be his highest after finishing below a 2.00 over his first two seasons. He thinks Skenes will allow 11 home runs.
Passan thinks this stat line WILL be good enough to win Skenes his second-consecutive Cy Young.
Skenes will take the ball against the New York Mets in Queens on March 26 on Opening Day. Skenes hasn’t been announced as the starting pitcher, but barring injury, will make his second-career Opening Day start.
The WBC runs until March 17. The Pirates’ home opener is set for April 3 against the Baltimore Orioles at 4:12 p.m. at PNC Park, looking for playoff baseball to return for the first time in a decade.
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