Paul Skenes Running Away with NL Cy Young as Former LSU Star Dominates the Big Leagues
Paul Skenes is doing more than living up to the hype — he’s rewriting what it looks like for a rookie to take over Major League Baseball. The former LSU standout and current Pittsburgh Pirates flamethrower is not just in the conversation for the National League Cy Young Award. At this point, he’s pulling away. With each electric start, Skenes is making a bold statement that the future isn’t just bright — it’s already here.
What’s been most impressive about Skenes isn’t just the numbers, which are jaw-dropping on their own. It’s the way he’s handled everything that comes with being one of the most talked-about prospects in years. From the moment he made his debut, there was pressure. Pirates fans were desperate for an ace. Analysts were eager to dissect every pitch. The expectations were sky-high. And yet, Skenes has met — and in many ways, surpassed — them all.
Armed with a fastball that consistently touches triple digits and secondary pitches that already rank among the league’s best, Skenes has carved up opposing lineups with a calmness that feels almost unreal for someone in his first big-league season. He doesn’t just pitch — he controls games. He dictates pace, keeps hitters off balance, and shows a level of polish that makes it hard to believe he was facing college hitters just over a year ago. This isn’t a raw flamethrower trying to figure things out. This is a Cy Young-caliber pitcher, fully formed, leading a staff.
What separates Skenes from other young arms around the league is his mix of stuff, command, and mental toughness. He doesn’t rattle. He doesn’t overthrow. He reads hitters, makes in-game adjustments like a veteran, and thrives under pressure. When he’s on the mound, there’s an energy — from the fans, from his teammates, even from opposing dugouts. Everyone knows they’re watching something special.
And while individual dominance is impressive, the context makes Skenes’ rise even more remarkable. The Pirates weren’t supposed to be in the playoff hunt, and while they’re still scrapping to stay in the race, Skenes has made them competitive every fifth day. He’s given the rotation an identity. He’s made them relevant. He’s made people care. In a league full of established stars and stacked rotations, a rookie in Pittsburgh is commanding national attention every time he pitches.
The National League Cy Young race began the season with familiar names dominating the headlines. Veterans like Zack Wheeler, Logan Webb, and Max Fried were all expected to be in the thick of it. But as the summer has worn on, Skenes has separated himself. His ERA has steadily dropped, his strikeout rate continues to climb, and he’s barely walking anyone. The eye test and the analytics both point to the same conclusion — this kid is the real deal.
Pitching coach Oscar Marin and the Pirates staff deserve credit, too. They’ve given Skenes the room to be himself, while also guiding him through the adjustment to MLB hitters. There’s been no unnecessary pitch-count drama, no overly cautious treatment — they trusted his talent and toughness, and it’s paid off. It’s clear Skenes is not being babied. He’s being challenged. And he’s thriving.
Teammates rave about his work ethic and presence. For someone so young, Skenes already commands respect in the clubhouse. He leads without saying much, letting his preparation and performance do the talking. He’s also made a point to learn — not just from coaches, but from veterans in the room. That humility, paired with elite talent, is a dangerous combination. It’s how long-term aces are built.
Fans in Pittsburgh haven’t had this kind of ace to root for in years. There’s a different kind of electricity at PNC Park when Skenes is on the mound. Crowds show up early to watch him warm up. Signs and chants echo through the ballpark. Every strikeout is followed by a roar that you’d expect in a playoff game. He’s not just pitching — he’s giving Pirates fans a reason to believe again.
And while the Cy Young conversation is still technically open, Skenes has made it increasingly one-sided. He leads or ranks near the top of every major pitching category. His Wins Above Replacement (WAR) is elite. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is off the charts. He’s going deep into games, facing top-tier opponents, and doing it all with a consistency that feels anything but rookie-like. At this rate, it would take a monumental drop-off for anyone to catch him.
The national media has caught on, too. Skenes highlights are everywhere — SportsCenter, MLB Network, social media feeds. Analysts have run out of superlatives. Former players are comparing him to the likes of Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole in their primes. That’s not just flattery. That’s recognition that what we’re watching isn’t normal. This is generational.
What makes this even more fun for fans is knowing how fast Skenes’ journey has been. Just last summer, he was helping LSU win a national championship, blowing away college hitters with raw power. Now, he’s arguably the best pitcher in the National League. The transition has been so seamless, it’s almost surreal. But for those who watched him dominate in Baton Rouge, this was always the expectation. The tools were always there. He just had to bring them to the biggest stage — and now that he has, he’s owning it.
The Pirates front office, often criticized for lack of big moves or slow rebuilds, suddenly looks pretty smart for betting on Skenes. Drafting a pitcher first overall comes with risk, but this time, it’s paying off in a huge way. He’s not just part of the rebuild — he might be the centerpiece that accelerates it.
As the season heads into the final stretch, all eyes will remain on Skenes. Can he keep it up? Will the Pirates continue to ride him deep into September? Will voters give the Cy Young to a rookie, even with the dominance staring them in the face? These are the questions baseball fans are asking, and at this point, it’s hard to argue against him.
Whether the Pirates make the playoffs or not, what’s certain is that Paul Skenes has already arrived as one of the game’s elite pitchers. He’s not waiting to develop. He’s not learning by trial and error. He’s dominating — and doing it against the best hitters in the world. That’s why his name is at the top of the Cy Young race, and that’s why it’s going to take something extraordinary to knock him off that path.
He’s not just in the conversation. He’s leading it.
And if his first few months in the big leagues are any indication, this might just be the beginning of a very long run at the top.
