As the Pittsburgh Pirates embark on the 2025 season, all eyes are on their electrifying young ace Paul Skenes. Fresh off a sensational rookie campaign that earned him NL Rookie of the Year honors, the 22-year-old flamethrower is approaching his sophomore season with a singular focus: winning.
Skenes burst onto the scene last May, armed with a blistering 100-mph fastball and an unshakable swagger. His arrival injected a much-needed jolt of energy into a Pirates franchise that has been mired in mediocrity. Yet despite his instant stardom, Skenes remains grounded, deflecting questions about his long-term future in Pittsburgh.
I haven’t given it too much thought.
– Paul Skenes on his chances of signing an extension with the Pirates
While fans clamor for the Pirates to lock up their young star, Skenes is keeping his sights set squarely on the present. He points to the team’s core of emerging talent and recent coaching additions as reasons for optimism, even as the front office has taken a restrained approach to free agency.
A Reason to Believe
Skenes exudes confidence that the Pirates can take a step forward in 2025, even without splashy offseason acquisitions. He highlights the anticipated growth of the team’s young nucleus and the impact of new coaches like hitting guru Matt Hague and respected pitching coach Brent Strom.
- Maturing young core gaining valuable experience
- Key coaching hires to bolster hitting and pitching
As for his own development, Skenes is eager to attack the season without the innings restrictions that the Pirates wisely imposed on him as a rookie. With the training wheels off, he envisions taking on a workhorse role atop the rotation.
I’m going to be ready to throw 240 innings. It’s not going to be 160 innings again. I know that. It’s gonna be much more, ‘Take the ball and pitch.’
– Paul Skenes on his expected workload in 2025
Cultivating a Winning Culture
Beyond his on-field prowess, Skenes recognizes the importance of his growing leadership role in shaping the clubhouse culture. He has spent the offseason picking the brains of established veterans around the league, gathering insights on how to foster a winning environment.
While he is mindful not to overstep as a second-year player, Skenes understands that his voice carries weight. He plans to take a more active role in setting the tone, with a relentless focus on the fundamentals and finer details that can spell the difference between winning and losing.
There’s no reason we can’t play fundamental baseball and execute at a very high level without having players like [Shohei Ohtani]. It’s not a complicated game.
– Paul Skenes on the keys to success for the Pirates
Drowning Out the Noise
As the face of the Pirates’ youth movement, Skenes has had to quickly adapt to the trappings of stardom. From increased media attention to fan adoration, he is learning to navigate his new normal while maintaining an unwavering focus on his craft.
Questions about his long-term future in Pittsburgh, while unavoidable, are simply not a priority for Skenes at this juncture. His sole concern is leading the Pirates back to relevance and restoring the luster to a proud franchise.
As pitchers and catchers report to Bradenton, all eyes will be on the Pirates’ precocious ace, searching for signs that he is ready to take the next step and cement his status as one of the game’s elite pitchers. Skenes, for his part, appears more than ready to shoulder the load, armed with a quiet confidence and fierce competitiveness that belie his youth.
For now, the baseball world will have to wait and wonder about Paul Skenes’ future in Pittsburgh. The young star has more pressing matters to attend to – like leading the Pirates back to the promised land, one blazing fastball at a time.
