The Pittsburgh Pirates may not have found themselves in the postseason race this September, but the story of their 2025 campaign is impossible to tell without highlighting the meteoric rise of Paul Skenes. The 23-year-old right-hander, who was the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, has become not just the face of the franchise, but arguably the most dominant pitcher in baseball this year. His performance on the mound has provided a much-needed spark for a Pirates team that has otherwise struggled to find its footing in the National League Central.
Skenes, in only his second big-league season, has been nothing short of sensational. Through 31 starts, he leads all of Major League Baseball with a 2.03 ERA, has struck out 209 batters in 181 2/3 innings, and holds a 10-10 record. That win-loss tally, while not eye-popping, says more about the Pirates’ offensive woes than Skenes’ ability to dominate opposing hitters. According to the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Skenes’ efforts were so outstanding that he was named the recipient of both the Roberto Clemente Award (team MVP) and the Steve Blass Award (best pitcher) for 2025. Remarkably, Skenes was a unanimous choice for both honors, becoming the first Pirate pitcher to win team MVP and Cy Young honors since the Blass Award’s inception in 2012.
It’s not just local recognition that’s pouring in. Skenes is the clear frontrunner for the National League Cy Young Award, which will be announced after the World Series. Should he win, he’d become the first player in four decades to capture the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young in consecutive seasons—a feat that would cement his status as a generational talent. As one source put it, Skenes is “a near lock” for the award, and the numbers back it up. He leads the National League with a 7.4 bWAR and has held opponents to a paltry .199/.253/.310 batting line. He is also just one strikeout shy of tying the franchise record for a right-handed pitcher in a single season, set by Mitch Keller in 2023.
Yet, despite his individual brilliance, Skenes has been vocal about the need for collective improvement. After the Pirates were officially eliminated from postseason contention with nine games remaining, Skenes addressed the team’s shortcomings with a frankness that belies his youth. “Winning, a lot of it comes down to what you’re willing to give up, what you’re willing to sacrifice,” Skenes said. “I think as a group, it’s gonna take more sacrifices from us.” He continued, “This is a wasted year if we don’t learn what we need to do and we don’t know why we didn’t go out there and do what we wanted to do. If those things happen, then it’s a wasted year, in my opinion. I don’t think that’s happening. I think—individually, as a team and as an organization—we know the adjustments we need to make. Now, we’ve just got to do them.”
Such leadership has not gone unnoticed. Pirates manager Don Kelly, who took over after a disastrous 12-26 start led to Derek Shelton’s dismissal, credits Skenes for his willingness to have “tough conversations” despite his relative inexperience. “Just the way that he leads himself first, and then carries himself that way, works like that, dominates on the field, it gives him that voice to be able to have those conversations with other people,” Kelly observed. Skenes’ leadership, combined with his on-field dominance, has quickly made him a cornerstone of the Pirates’ future plans.
But make no mistake, the 2025 Pirates have had their share of challenges. The team’s offense has languished at the bottom of the league in nearly every major category—last in runs per game, fewest home runs, and the third-worst batting average. While the pitching staff has shown flashes of promise, with productive seasons from Mike Burrows, Braxton Ashcraft, Johan Oviedo, Isaac Mattson, and Dennis Santana, the lack of run support has repeatedly left Skenes and his fellow starters with little margin for error. The Pirates’ starters averaged just over 5 1/3 innings per start, ranking 20th in the league, a figure attributed in part to managing the workloads of young pitchers.
Despite these struggles, there are reasons for optimism in Pittsburgh. Young players like Rafael Flores and Cam Devanney debuted late in the season and could play key roles in 2026, while top prospect Konnor Griffin is expected to push for major league time. The rotation, anchored by Skenes, Mitch Keller, and the rising Bubba Chandler, could be among the league’s best next year. The Pirates’ front office, led by general manager Ben Cherington, has expressed its commitment to building around Skenes, who remains under contract for three more seasons after 2025. However, with the active roster payroll sitting at just $50.7 million—well below league average—questions linger about whether ownership will make the necessary investments to support their young ace with a competitive roster.
Off the field, Skenes’ impact is just as significant. He’s embraced his role in the Pittsburgh community, recently spending a day delivering meals to firefighters and first responders. His commitment to the city and the organization is evident, but so is his drive to keep improving. “It’s going to take a lot of guys taking a look in the mirror, figuring out what it is that they need to get better at, and making sacrifices to do that,” Skenes said. He’s also made it clear that while extension talks haven’t happened during the season, his focus remains squarely on getting better and helping the team take the next step.
As the Pirates head into their final games of the season, Skenes is expected to make his last start in Cincinnati early next week. No pitcher has ever won the Cy Young Award with a .500 or worse record, but Skenes is poised to break that trend. The award announcement is set for November 20, and by then, Skenes will already have turned his attention to 2026. “I’ll figure it out,” he said of his offseason plans. “I’ll figure out exactly what it is. I know I can get better. Just got to figure out what it is.”
For Pirates fans, Skenes offers a beacon of hope amid another tough season. His combination of talent, work ethic, and leadership has set a new standard in the clubhouse. With a young core developing around him and a front office signaling its intent to build for the future, the pieces are there for Pittsburgh to turn the corner. Whether ownership steps up to invest in a winning roster remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: as long as Paul Skenes is on the mound in black and gold, the Pirates have a fighting chance to reclaim their place among baseball’s contenders.
