Paul Skenes is the Pittsburgh Pirates most prized asset, yes, but many would consider him – for the time being – as a wasted player. In that sense, a Hall of Famer doubted the endurance that the young pitcher can have as part of the Pittsburgh team. The Pirates called up Skenes on May 11, 2024, less than a year after taking him first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft.
It is worth mentioning that Skenes won the National League Rookie of the Year award, the first Pirates player to do so since outfielder Jason Bay in 2004, while also earning All-MLB First Team honors and finishing third in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He was also the fifth rookie to start an All-Star Game, with Los Angeles Dodgers’ Hideo Nomo doing so in 1995
C.C. Sabathia compared Paul Skenes to Tarik Skubal
Hall of Famer C.C. Sabathia said there’s no way the Pirates can get rid of Skenes now, shutting down any trade ideas, especially with how important he could be for a team aiming for the postseason in 2026, comparing him to Detroit Tigers left-handed starting pitcher Tarik Skubal.
I don’t think Pittsburgh can do anything with him in the near future
“I don’t think Pittsburgh can do anything with him in the near future, just because of the way their fan base would look, right?” Sabathia said. “You can’t give up on a team that has that kind of talent, that kind of starter. Look at Detroit and Skubal. They’re in the playoffs every year, solely because of the way he pitches. You can get by with one starter and Skubal almost pitched them to the World Series last year, just with him.”
Paul Skenes’ numbers with Pittsburgh Pirates
Paul Skenes went 11-3 in 23 starts as a rookie in 2024, while posting a 1.96 ERA in 133.0 innings pitched. He allowed just 29 earned runs, 94 hits, six home runs and 32 walks, while striking out 170 and holding opposing hitting to a .198 batting average. He also had a K/9 of 11.50 and a WHIP of 0.95.
He continued his incredible pitching in 2025, as he only had a 10-10 record in 32 starts with the Pirates, but a 1.97 ERA in 187.2 innings pitched, 216 strikeouts and 42 walks, a .199 opponent batting average and a 0.95 WHIP, along with a 10.36 K/9, a 2.01 BB/9 and a 5.14 K/BB.
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