Skenes: Lost year for Pirates if no changes. Analysis and future.

Paul Skenes: Focused on the Pirates’ Future

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace, Paul Skenes, isn’t thinking about the Cy Young speech he’ll likely be asked to give. Nor is he focused on the elite company he’s kept during his first two seasons in the Major Leagues. The 23-year-old doesn’t pitch to win awards, but to win games. And neither Skenes, though largely through no fault of his own, nor his team have done enough to avoid another last-place finish in the NL Central. Despite his professional growth, Skenes is more concerned with how the Pirates will respond during the winter.

This is a wasted year if we don’t learn what we need to do and don’t know why we don’t go out and do what we wanted to do.

Paul Skenes

The season, which began with the club hoping to contend again, quickly disintegrated. Despite Skenes being the most dominant pitcher, Pittsburgh entered its final home series against the Athletics, having lost 11 of 12 games, which secured the franchise its 29th losing season since 1992. The worst offensive in the majors has also put Skenes on the verge of making unwanted history. Despite leading MLB with an ERA of 2.03, 209 strikeouts, and a batting average against of .199, Skenes has a record of 10-10. No starting pitcher has won the Cy Young with a .500 or worse record. Skenes is a strong favorite to hear his name when the award is announced on November 20. By then, Skenes will have already begun his preparations for 2026. Skenes expects those around him to do the same.

There’s room to improve in this clubhouse. We need to do that. I’m sure we’ll get some pieces and do all that, but my mind right now is ‘¿What can we do within the clubhouse to improve, now and for next year?’ There’s an urgency to it, and we need to understand that and act accordingly.

Paul Skenes

This means being willing to challenge yourself in ways that haven’t been done before. The quickest path for Pittsburgh to contention could be to part with some of its young pitching talent if it wants to improve an offense that has been abysmal. Skenes has found a way to stay one step, and in some cases two or three, ahead of most opponents. He believes he is a more complete pitcher than he was a year ago. Despite the losses, Skenes has tried to remain optimistic. He has also remained firm in his commitment to the team and the community. Although he remains under team control for the rest of the decade, general manager Ben Cherington has faced questions about whether Skenes could be traded someday. The club is standing firm in its commitment to him, although there have been no conversations about a possible extension. Skenes will focus on reinforcing the few holes he may have in his game, even if he doesn’t know what they might be.

I will find out. I will find out exactly what it is. I know I can get better. I just have to figure out what it is.

Paul Skenes