There is no denying that Paul Skenes is already one of the best pitchers in MLB despite his relatively short time with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 22-year-old was a revelation for the NL Central team last season, justifying the Pirates’ decision when they picked him first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Last season Skenes was named the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2024 All-Star Game, becoming just the fifth rookie in MLB history to do so. He also finished the season as NL Rookie of the Year and finished third in the Cy Young race.
His impressive displays on the mound have already made him a household name, which is why it’s no surprise Pirates GM Derek Shelton named him the opening day starting pitcher for the team.
However, Skenes’ response didn’t exactly light the fanbase ablaze as he simply said: “Sweet.”
Perhaps its Skenes showing that his pitching will do the talking, as he is known to keep a low profile when he isn’t delivering 11.50 strikeouts per nine innings.
Pirates fans unsure ahead of new season
Skenes is a big reason why Pirates fans are looking forward to the new season, as the team haven’t had much success in recent campaigns. The last time they made the playoffs was 2015 when they lost in the Wild Card round to the Chicago Cubs.
“Show the video from last year where you told them you were sending him to the minors to manipulate his service time because you’re not willing to pay any of your players,” wrote one fan, highlighting how the fanbase aren’t exactly convinced by what the team have done in recent years.
Another wrote: “I’m gonna miss him when he inevitably leaves us.”
A third added: “Lmao he ain’t even excited because duhh he already knew this,” said another fan.
The responses show the skepticism within the Pirates fanbase, as the team haven’t shown a willingness to spend money and put a competitive team on the diamond. Despite that, they’ll be hoping Skenes once again shows his worth on the mound, regardless of his short responses.
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