| Paul Skenes | |
|---|---|
 Skenes with thePittsburgh Pirates in 2024 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 30 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (2002-05-29)May 29, 2002 (age 23) Fullerton, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 11, 2024, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 21–13 |
| Earned run average | 1.96 |
| Strikeouts | 386 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Paul David Skenes (/skiːnz/, born May 29, 2002) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for thePittsburgh Pirates ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024. Skenes playedcollege baseball for theAir Force Falcons andLouisiana State University (LSU) Tigers.
Skenes was born and raised inOrange County, California, where he attendedEl Toro High School and played three seasons ofvarsity baseball. Skenes initially attended theUnited States Air Force Academy and won theJohn Olerud Award, given annually to the besttwo-way player in college baseball, in 2022. Ahead of his junior season, Skenes transferred to LSU, where he wonSoutheastern Conference and national pitcher of the year honors as well as theDick Howser Trophy. Skenes was part of the LSU pitching staff during the team's2023 Men's College World Series championship win and was named the tournament'sMost Outstanding Player.
Skenes entered the2023 MLB draft as one of its most anticipated prospects and considered by some as the best pitching prospect sinceStephen Strasburg.[1] Skenes was selectedfirst overall by the Pirates and signed to a $9.2 million bonus. After working through the Pirates’ farm system in just one season, he made his MLB debut in May 2024 and was named the starting pitcher for theNational League in the2024 All-Star Game, becoming only the fifth rookie in MLB history to do so.[2] Skenes was named to his second All-Star Game in 2025. He won theNL Rookie of the Year award in 2024 and theNL Cy Young Award in 2025, becoming the first player to win those awards in consecutive seasons sinceDwight Gooden did it in the 1984 and 1985 seasons.[3]
Paul David Skenes was born on May 29, 2002, inFullerton, California, to Craig, apharmaceuticals company employee, and Karen, ahomemaker and former high school teacher. Two of Skenes' uncles served in theUnited States Navy while another served in theCoast Guard.[4][5] Skenes grew up a fan of theLos Angeles Angels.[6]
Skenes grew up inLake Forest, California, and attendedEl Toro High School, the alma mater of major leaguersNolan Arenado andMatt Chapman, among others.[7] Skenes played three years ofvarsity baseball as atwo-way player—he playedcatcher,first base, andthird base in addition to pitching.[8] In September 2018, during his junior year, Skenes announced his commitment to attend theUnited States Air Force Academy and playcollege baseball for theAir Force Falcons.[9] In his junior season, he posted a 0.67earned run average (ERA). He was voted to theall-star teams for theCoast View Athletic Association,Orange County, theCIF Southern Section, and the state ofCalifornia. During his senior year, Skenes was named team captain and had a 0.33 ERA, and hit three home runs before the remainder of the season was abruptly canceled in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[10] He was named to the all-county first team following the season. Skenes graduated from El Toro in 2020 with agrade point average of 4.76.[4]
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Skenes honored his commitment to playcollege baseball for theAir Force Falcons and accepted an appointment as part of the class of 2024.[11] In his first season at Air Force, Skenes was named theMountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-American by theCollegiate Baseball Newspaper,Baseball America, and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.[12] In 2021, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theWareham Gatemen of theCape Cod Baseball League.[13] In 2022, Skenes won theJohn Olerud Award as the nation's best two-way player.[14]
After his sophomore season, Skenes entered the NCAA transfer portal.[15] On July 28, 2022, Skenes announced that he would transfer toLouisiana State University to play for theLSU Tigers.[16] On June 22, 2023, Skenes brokeBen McDonald's SEC and LSU record for strikeouts in a single season, recording his 203rd strikeout of the year.[17]
Following the 2023 season, Skenes won theNational Pitcher of the Year Award[18] and theDick Howser Trophy.[19] LSU won the2023 College World Series and Skenes was named theCollege World Series Most Outstanding Player.[20]
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ThePittsburgh Pirates selected Skenes with thefirst overall selection of the2023 Major League Baseball draft. He andDylan Crews became the first college teammates in MLB draft history to be selected with the first two overall picks.[21] Skenes was the second player in LSU history to be selected first overall in the draft, joiningBen McDonald. He signed with the Pirates on July 18, 2023, for a $9.2 million signing bonus, the highest ever for a drafted player.[22][23] Skenes debuted onMLB.com'sMLB Pipeline list as the third-ranked prospect league-wide and the top-ranked pitcher.[24]
On August 7, Skenes was assigned to therookie-levelFlorida Complex League Pirates with the expectation of limited innings due to his high usage at LSU the prior spring.[25][26] He made his professional debut on August 10 and pitched a one-two-three inning against theFCL Twins; all but one of his pitches were clocked at 99 miles per hour (159 km/h) or higher and he struck out fellow top draft pickWalker Jenkins.[27] Five days later, August 15, Skenes was assigned to theSingle-ABradenton Marauders.[28] Just six days after that he was again promoted, to theDouble-AAltoona Curve.[29] Skenes began the 2024 season with theTriple-AIndianapolis Indians.[30][31] He pitched to a 0.99 ERA with 45 strikeouts over27+1⁄3 innings.[32]
On May 11, 2024, the Pirates selected Skenes' contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[32] In his MLB debut atPNC Park against theChicago Cubs that day, Skenes threw 17 fastballs at 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) or higher and struck out seven, but surrendered three earned runs in four innings in ano decision.[33][34] In his second start, against the Cubs atWrigley Field on May 17, Skenes threw six innings without allowing a hit, striking out eleven batters (including the first seven batters he faced).[35]
On July 7, 2024, he was selected to the2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, becoming the first No. 1 draft pick to do so as a rookie.[36] On July 11, National League team managerTorey Lovullo named Skenes the starting pitcher for the National League for the game, becoming the fifth rookie ever to receive the selection.[37][38] Skenes threw a scoreless inning in the All-Star game, walkingJuan Soto but subsequently retiringAaron Judge with a groundout.[39]On September 9 against theMiami Marlins, Skenes struck outConnor Norby in the top of the first inning to record his 143rd strikeout, the new Pittsburgh Pirates franchise record for strikeouts in a single season by a rookie.[40] Skenes ended his rookie season with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 170 strikeouts, 32 walks, and an 11–3 record in 23 starts.[41] After the season, Skenes was namedNL Rookie of the Year and finished third for theCy Young Award losing toChris Sale of theAtlanta Braves.[42][43]
On January 28, 2025, Skenes was named as one of the three cover athletes ofMLB The Show 25 alongsideElly De La Cruz andGunnar Henderson, making him the first pitcher, excludingtwo-way playerShohei Ohtani, to be featured on anMLB The Show cover.
On March 27, 2025, Skenes was the Opening Day starting pitcher for the2025 Pirates. Facing theMiami Marlins atLoanDepot Park, he pitched five1⁄3 innings, giving up two hits and walking two while striking out seven. However, the Marlins scored three runs in the last two innings off of Pittsburgh's bullpen, defeating the Pirates, 5–4, and leaving Skenes with ano decision.[44] On April 2, 2025, he got his first win of the season againstTampa Bay Rays, pitched seven innings, giving up three hits, and striking out six batters in a 4–2 win.[45] On April 26, 2025, Skenes hurled 61⁄3 scoreless innings and recorded a season-high with nine strikeouts in the Pirates’ 3–0 win against theLos Angeles Dodgers.[46]
On July 6, Skenes was named to the2025 All-Star Game roster, his second consecutive NL All-Star selection.[47] On July 12, National League team managerDave Roberts named Skenes the starting pitcher for the National League for the game, his second consecutive year to receive the selection.[48] Skenes threw a scoreless inning in the All-Star game, striking outGleyber Torres andRiley Greene and retiring Aaron Judge with a groundout.[49] Skenes was named asNational League Pitcher of the Month for July after posting a 3–2 record, 0.67 ERA, allowing 21 hits and two earned runs, striking out 36 batters, and walked three in 27 innings. It was the first time he earned Pitcher of the Month in his career.[50] Skenes' 50 start on August 24 against theColorado Rockies and he lowered his careerERA to 2.02. Since the start of the Live Ball Era in 1920, the only pitcher to have a lower ERA over their first 50 starts isVida Blue, who recorded a 2.01 ERA from 1969-1972.[51] On September 10, Skenes pitched five innings, giving up two hits, and striking out eight batters againstBaltimore Orioles atOriole Park at Camden Yards. With those eight Ks, Skenes recorded his first 200-strikeout season. He became the 8th Pirates pitcher in franchise history to strike out 200 batters in a season, joiningEd Morris,Bob Veale,Óliver Pérez,Mitch Keller,A. J. Burnett,Francisco Liriano, andGerrit Cole.[52] Skenes finished the season with a 1.97 ERA, the first sub-2.00 ERA for a starting pitcher sinceJustin Verlander's 1.75 ERA with the Houston Astros in 2022. He became the fourth player in the live ball era (since 1920) to record an ERA that low in his age-23 season or younger, joiningDwight Gooden (1985 at age 20),Vida Blue (1971, age 21), andDean Chance (1964, age 23). He also set a new franchise record for most strikeouts for a right-handed pitcher, now sitting at 216 after breaking Mitch Keller's record of 210.[53]
Skenes is in a relationship with former LSU gymnast and social media influencerLivvy Dunne. He said in an interview that they started dating after his best friend at LSU dated Dunne's roommateElena Arenas.[54]
His father, Craig, was a biochemistry major who works in the eye medication industry and topped out in JV baseball. His mother, Karen, teaches AP chemistry and was in the marching band.
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