Pirates Announce Paul Skenes News After Second Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Oct 29, 2025 4:31 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates finished with a losing record for the seventh consecutive season in 2025, despite the efforts of right-handed starting pitcher Paul Skenes. The 23-year-old ace has quickly become one of the most dominant arms in baseball since Pittsburgh selected him first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft out of LSU. It took just 307 days from the time Skenes joined the organization for him to make his big-league debut, an ascent that highlighted his readiness for the majors.

Since then, Skenes has been nearly untouchable, delivering elite performances from the moment he stepped on the mound. In 2025, he continued dominating, posting an MLB-best 1.97 ERA across 32 starts. Skenes struck out 216 batters through 187 2/3 innings of work. However, he collected just 10 wins as the Pirates struggled all year to provide him with adequate run support.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes.Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Despite Pittsburgh’s struggles, Skenes was recognized individually by the MLB Players Association on Wednesday. He was chosen as the recipient of the National League Outstanding Pitcher Award, selected by his peers for an incredible sophomore season. The Pirates congratulated the team’s lone representative on X.

Pittsburgh wrote, “The best on the bump! Congrats to Paul Skenes on being named the @MLBPA Players Choice Awards NL Outstanding Pitcher of the Year.” Only one pitcher is selected from the National League each year, making it an impressive honor for Skenes.

The best on the bump!
Congrats to Paul Skenes on being named the @MLBPA Players Choice Awards NL Outstanding Pitcher of the Year. pic.twitter.com/Bjum2W10Li
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) October 29, 2025

As Skenes continues to build an impressive list of individual accolades, he has yet to experience team success with the Pirates. Pittsburgh has failed to come close to postseason contention through his first two seasons. After dropping 91 games in 2025, the organization faces a long road ahead.

With the franchise’s trajectory uncertain, Skenes has surfaced in trade rumors over the past year. With four more seasons of team control remaining, trading a generational talent like Skenes would likely yield one of the most significant returns in league history. He still has room to evolve, with the ability to refine and expand his pitch arsenal. Whether he stays or goes, Skenes has already proven he is a foundational talent with the tools to dominate for years.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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