Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Pitcher Paul Skenes Caps Off 2025 By Making History

When Skenes struck out Reds First Baseman Spencer Steer in the bottom of the second inning, it wasn’t just another K to add to his growing collection. That punch-out marked his 211th strikeout of the season, officially making him the most prolific right-handed strikeout artist in Pittsburgh Pirates history.

Think about that for a second. We’re talking about a franchise that’s been around since 1882, and this 22-year-old phenom just waltzed in during his sophomore season and broke a record that stood for decades. The previous mark belonged to his current teammate Mitch Keller, who fanned 210 batters during his All-Star 2023 campaign.

But here’s the kicker—Skenes isn’t just breaking records; he’s obliterating expectations. Remember, this is only his first full season in the majors. Most pitchers are still figuring out how to order coffee from the clubhouse barista at this point in their careers.

The Historical Context Is Mind-Blowing

Let’s put this achievement in perspective, shall we? Skenes now ranks sixth all-time in Pirates franchise history for single-season strikeouts. The only guys ahead of him? A collection of left-handed legends, including Bob Veale (who did it four times in the 1960s), Oliver Pérez, and Ed Morris from way back in the 1880s when baseball was still figuring out what a curveball was.

Speaking of Morris, that guy holds the franchise record with 326 strikeouts in 1886. But here’s the thing: that was during the dead-ball era, when batters swung at anything that moved and probably a few things that didn’t. Skenes is doing this in an era where hitters study video like they’re cramming for finals.

In the live-ball era (since 1920), only seven Pirates pitchers have reached 200 strikeouts in a single season. Skenes just became the fourth right-hander to join that exclusive club, alongside Keller, A.J. Burnett (209 in 2013), and Gerrit Cole (202 in 2015). Not bad company to keep.

The Cy Young Race Is Over

Let’s be real here—if the National League Cy Young Award voting were held today, Skenes would win by a landslide that would make political pollsters weep. The guy finished his season with a 1.97 ERA, becoming the first qualified pitcher to post an ERA under 2.00 since Justin Verlander pulled it off in 2022.

That’s rarefied air, folks. In the past decade (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season), only six qualified pitchers have managed an ERA under 2.00. We’re talking about names like Jacob deGrom, Clayton Kershaw, and Zack Greinke—basically the Mount Rushmore of modern pitching.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Skenes’ 213 strikeouts by the end of Wednesday’s third inning rank him fifth in all of Major League Baseball this season. He trails only Garrett Crochet (250), Tarik Skubal (241), Logan Webb (216), and Dylan Cease (215). Not exactly shabby company for a guy who’s still figuring out how to navigate major league life.

His consistency has been equally impressive. Skenes has posted four or more strikeouts in all but four of his starts this season. He’s reached double-digit strikeouts once (a season-high 10 against Seattle), logged nine strikeouts four times, and eight strikeouts seven times. That’s the kind of reliability that makes general managers wake up in cold sweats thinking about contract negotiations.

What This Means For Pittsburgh

For a Pirates organization that’s been searching for reasons to get excited for longer than most fans care to remember, Skenes represents something special—hope wrapped in a 100-mph fastball. This isn’t just about one great season; it’s about building something sustainable.

Combined with his rookie season total of 170 strikeouts, Skenes now has 383 career strikeouts, placing him 65th all-time in Pirates history. At this rate, he’ll be climbing that leaderboard faster than fans can update their fantasy baseball lineups.

The Pirates may not be heading to the postseason this year, but with Skenes anchoring their rotation for the foreseeable future, October baseball in Pittsburgh doesn’t seem like such a distant dream anymore. And for a fanbase that’s endured more rebuilding seasons than anyone should have to, that’s worth its weight in Primanti Brothers sandwiches.

Skenes didn’t just break a record on Wednesday night—he gave Pirates fans something they haven’t had in years: a legitimate reason to believe the future is bright.