A Breakout Year for Paul Skenes
Paul Skenes had a meteoric rise to stardom in his rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, cementing his place as one of the most promising young pitchers in Major League Baseball. The right-hander’s remarkable 2022 campaign saw him post a 1.96 ERA, 170 strikeouts in 133 innings, and an impressive 11-3 record in 23 starts, earning him the National League Rookie of the Year honors. His blistering four-seam fastball, which regularly touched 100 mph, paired with a devastating slider and a unique "splinker" pitch, made him a formidable opponent for batters. However, as he gears up for his sophomore season, Skenes is acutely aware that he must build on his initial success to maintain his edge in a league that never stops evolving.
Preparing for a New Chapter
At the Pirates’ spring training camp in Bradenton, Florida, Skenes is already making waves with his new and improved pitching arsenal. He spent the offseason diligently working on his craft, refining the skills that brought him success and adding new tools to his repertoire. "I worked on some stuff during the offseason, honed in on some stuff from last year," Skenes told reporters, exuding confidence and optimism. "I feel like we’re really in a good spot." This sense of preparedness and readiness to adapt is crucial for a young player looking to make an even bigger impact in the upcoming season.
Expanding the Arsenal
One of the key elements of Skenes’ preparation is the addition of two new pitches: a cutter and a two-seam fastball with tailing action, akin to a sinker. These additions are designed to create more swing decisions for hitters, adding layers of complexity to his pitching strategy. "Really, just trying to create more swing decisions," Skenes explained. "That’s what it boils down to." The cutter, in particular, complements his existing slider by providing a more consistent shape and a strikable pitch, enhancing his efficiency on the mound. The sinker, on the other hand, is a pitch Skenes is eager to experiment with, seeing where it can take his game.
Pitching Coach Oscar Marin’s Insight
Pirates pitching coach Oscar Marin provided valuable insight into Skenes’ new pitches. "With the cutter in itself, he’s had his slider and he tried to throw it two different ways," Marin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "So he has a sweeper, he has a slider, it was just a pitch to be able to consistently get one shape with and be able to be a strikable pitch to be more efficient." Marin’s expertise and guidance are instrumental in helping Skenes refine these new pitches and integrate them seamlessly into his game plan. The sinker, according to Marin, is an experimental addition that Skenes is excited to explore, aiming to add another dimension to his pitch selection.
The Splinker: A Pitch That Defies Batters
Teammate Adam Frazier, who faced Skenes in a recent spring training game, was left in awe of the pitcher’s signature splinker. "I didn’t even swing at it," Frazier said. "It’s a pitch nobody is going to do anything with. If you make contact, you’re just hitting it into the ground." The splinker, a blend of a slider and a sinker, is a pitch that defies batters with its unpredictable movement. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to induce ground balls, making it an invaluable asset in key situations. Skenes’ mastery of this pitch, coupled with his new additions, positions him as a formidable opponent for any lineup.
Setting Goals for the Future
As Skenes looks to the upcoming season, he is setting clear and achievable goals to build on his rookie success. One of his primary objectives is to pitch deeper into games and increase his pitch efficiency. "Getting ahead, winning the 0-0, 0-1, 1-1, winning those counts, that stuff is important," he emphasized. Last season, Pirates manager Derek Shelton often pulled Skenes after 100 pitches, a standard practice for a rookie who had thrown only 34 innings before his major league debut and 122 2/3 innings the previous year at LSU. This season, Skenes is likely to log more innings, with a target range of 150 to 175 innings, solidifying his role as the team’s ace and a cornerstone of the Pirates’ future.
