Paul Skenes‘ meteoric rise in Major League Baseball has taken another leap forward, as the Pittsburgh Pirates star has been named to the All-MLB First Team for his performances through the first two months of the 2025 season.
The 22-year-old right-hander, who burst onto the scene in 2024, has already cemented himself as one of the game’s premier pitchers-and his latest accolade only reinforces that status.
Skenes made history as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and quickly lived up to the hype. After an explosive rookie campaign that saw him win National League Rookie of the Year, earn an All-Star start, and finish third in Cy Young voting, the former LSU standout is now being recognized for his continued dominance in year two.
Firmly among the game’s elite in 2025
MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa selected Skenes as one of five starting pitchers on the All-MLB First Team through May, joining Zack Wheeler, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Max Fried, and Tarik Skubal. Skenes is the lone representative from the Pirates, a reflection of his individual brilliance despite the team’s continued rebuild.
Through 11 starts this season, Skenes has delivered a 2.36 ERA across 68.2 innings pitched. He’s struck out 70 batters while walking just 18, holding opponents to a .190 batting average and maintaining an exceptional 0.95 WHIP, the same mark he posted in 2024.
Yet, despite his dominance on the mound, Skenes owns a 3-5 record, hindered by the Pirates‘ ongoing struggles to generate offense. They’ve scored only 37 total runs during his outings, leaving little margin for error.
Still, the numbers only tell part of the story. Skenes‘ presence on the mound has been described by Randhawa as “the most electric” in the sport, and the young ace continues to dazzle with a powerful fastball, sharp secondary pitches, and a fearless approach that belies his age.
His selection to the All-MLB team adds another layer to an already stellar resume. Skenes‘ rookie season saw him post an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in just 133 innings. That success has seamlessly carried into 2025, further validating his status as the face of the Pirates’ franchise and one of MLB’s brightest young stars.
Off the field, Skenes also draws attention thanks to his high-profile relationship with LSU gymnast and influencer Olivia Dunne, who has become a regular presence at Pirates games. The pair, both LSU alumni, have emerged as a rising power couple in American sports, adding to the spotlight surrounding Skenes’ growing profile.
Though the Pirates remain outside the playoff picture, Skenes offers hope for the franchise’s long-term future. As one of the most dominant arms in the National League, his continued development is crucial to Pittsburgh’s ambitions of returning to contention for the first time in over a decade.
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