Pirates’ Playoff Hopes Fade, but Paul Skenes Keeps Shining
The Pittsburgh Pirates may be out of the playoff race, but rookie sensation Paul Skenes isn’t slowing down. On Monday night, September 9, Skenes made history, surpassing Cy Blanton’s record for most strikeouts by a Pirates rookie. He racked up nine strikeouts in a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins, pushing his season total to 151 in just 20 starts. With an impressive 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings, a 2.10 ERA, and only 2.3 walks per nine, Skenes continues to dominate.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who has coached across multiple MLB teams since 2005, is amazed by Skenes’ strikeout power. “I can’t think of anyone I’ve seen who’s been this strikeout-heavy, especially as a rookie,” Shelton told MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf.
Skenes, just 22 years old, is already accustomed to the spotlight. After winning the Men’s College World Series with LSU and earning the title of Most Outstanding Player, he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Pirates in 2023. Reflecting on his achievement, Skenes said, “It’s cool, but it’s about staying in the moment. All those stats are just a result of focusing on each pitch.”
Though he’s still early in his career, Skenes recognizes the magnitude of what he’s accomplished. “It’s pretty dang cool,” he admitted to reporters. “The goal is to keep giving them moments like that.”
With September in full swing, concerns about Skenes’ workload have surfaced, but the rookie isn’t worried. Despite already throwing 147.1 innings between Triple-A and the majors this year, Skenes feels strong. “I’m 22. I’m built to throw a lot of innings,” he told ESPN. He expects to finish the season near 165 innings, setting him up for a full workload in 2025 without restrictions.
As the Pirates look to the future, Skenes is focused on finishing strong. “I’m not tired,” he said. “It’s just about pushing through to the end.”