When Paul Skenes walked onto the mound at PNC Park for the first time in May 2024, the air in Pittsburgh felt different. Heavy. Electric. You’ve seen the highlights—the triple-digit heat, the "splinker" that looks like a glitch in the Matrix, and that stoic, military-bred mustache. But honestly, if you think this is just another "highly touted prospect" story, you’re missing the bigger picture.
He didn't just join a rotation. He basically hijacked the entire sport for six months.
We’ve seen phenoms before. Stephen Strasburg had the hype. Dwight Gooden had the curveball. But Paul Skenes Pittsburgh Pirates era is something weirdly specific. It's a blend of Air Force discipline and a repertoire that shouldn't exist in the same arm. By the time he finished his 2024 campaign with a 1.96 ERA and the NL Rookie of the Year trophy, he hadn't just lived up to the noise. He’d silenced it.
The "Splinker" and the Science of a 102 MPH Fastball
Let’s talk about the stuff. Most guys throw hard. Some guys have "touch." Skenes has both, which is just unfair. His four-seam fastball isn't just fast; it’s heavy. During his debut against the Cubs, he uncorked 17 pitches at 100 mph or higher. Most pitchers would need a week of ice and a prayer after that. For him, it was just Saturday.
But the real story is the "splinker."
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It’s a hybrid between a splitter and a sinker. It’s a pitch that dives at 94 mph. Think about that for a second. Most MLB pitchers would kill for a fastball that sits at 94. Skenes uses it as a secondary "off-speed" pitch that moves like it’s falling off a table.
Jake Peavy and Mark DeRosa recently broke down his mechanics on MLB Network. They pointed out something most casual fans miss: his arm angle. He releases the ball from a surprisingly low slot—about 18.7 degrees. When you combine that low release point with 100+ mph velocity, the "flat" angle makes the ball look like it’s rising. Hitters don't just miss it; they look confused.
Why he's not just a "Power Pitcher"
- Efficiency: He doesn't just hunt strikeouts. He ended 2024 with only 32 walks in 133 innings.
- The Arsenal: He’s actually working with a 5-to-7 pitch mix depending on the day.
- The Setup: He uses a "sweeper" that held opponents to a minuscule average, often using it to lock up hitters looking for the heat.
That Historic 2024 Run by the Numbers
People forget how fast this happened. Skenes was the No. 1 overall pick out of LSU in 2023. Less than a year later, he was starting the All-Star Game for the National League. He was the first player in history to be the top pick and an All-Star starter in back-to-back years.
The stats from his rookie year look like something out of a video game. An 11-3 record. 170 strikeouts. A 0.95 WHIP.
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He shattered the Pirates' franchise record for rookie strikeouts, a record previously held by Cy Blanton since 1935. Think about that. The record stood for 89 years. Skenes didn't just break it; he demolished it while essentially being on a "pitch count" for half the season because the front office was trying to be careful with his arm.
The "Skenes Effect" on Pittsburgh
PNC Park is arguably the most beautiful stadium in baseball, but for a long time, it was also one of the loneliest. That changed the moment Skenes arrived.
Data from the 2024 season showed a 24% boost in home attendance on days Paul Skenes started. It became "appointment viewing." People weren't just showing up to see the Pirates; they were showing up to see a specific 22-year-old kid from Fullerton, California, try to break the radar gun.
It’s a "halo effect." When Skenes pitches, the Pirates feel like a big-market team. The energy in the North Shore is palpable. But there’s a flip side. The team went 15-8 when he started and 61-78 when he didn't. That’s a massive disparity. It highlights the glaring reality that while Skenes is a generational talent, the Pirates' ownership—led by Bob Nutting—still has a massive mountain to climb to build a winning roster around him.
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What's Next? The 2025 Cy Young and Beyond
As we move through the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the conversation has shifted from "Is he good?" to "Is he the greatest phenom ever?"
In 2025, Skenes didn't just avoid the sophomore slump; he leaped over it. He took home the NL Cy Young Award, becoming the first player since Dwight Gooden in the mid-80s to win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young in consecutive seasons. He’s now the ace of a staff that includes guys like Mitch Keller and Jared Jones, forming one of the most terrifying young rotations in the league.
His 2025 campaign saw him post a 1.97 ERA over 187.2 innings. He’s becoming more efficient, throwing more shutouts, and—scarily enough—adding even more movement to his sinker.
What You Can Do to Follow the Journey
If you’re trying to keep up with the Paul Skenes Pittsburgh Pirates saga, don't just look at the box scores. You have to watch the sequences. Here’s how to really "scout" his next game:
- Watch the First Inning: Skenes often tries to establish the four-seamer early. If he’s hitting 101 with ease in the first, it’s going to be a long night for the opposition.
- Track the "Splinker" Count: See how often he uses it against lefties. It’s his go-to weapon for neutralizing power hitters who try to pull the ball.
- Check the Velocity in the 6th: The most impressive thing about Skenes is his "late-game" gas. He often throws his hardest pitches after he’s already crossed the 90-pitch mark.
- Follow the Local Beat: Writers like Jason Mackey and the crew at Pittsburgh Baseball Now offer the best boots-on-the-ground reporting that goes deeper than national highlights.
The reality is that we are watching a Hall of Fame trajectory in real-time. Whether the Pirates can actually win a World Series with him is a different, much more complicated question involving payrolls and front-office decisions. But for now, just enjoy the show. There hasn't been a pitcher like this in a century.
Actionable Insight: If you're a fantasy baseball player or a card collector, the "buy low" window for Skenes closed a long time ago. At this point, you're betting on durability. To stay updated on his specific pitching metrics and "Stuff+" ratings, use sites like FanGraphs or Statcast to see if his arm slot remains consistent, as that is the primary indicator of his long-term health and dominance.