The best is yet to come for Paul Skenes. On Saturday, he looked like a long-time ace.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the right-hander with the first overall pick last year, and he was dealt to the minors and called up to the majors in May.
His dominance earned him an All-Star nod, and he was named the National League starter.
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Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne (Getty Images)
Saturday’s game against the New York Yankees was the final start of his historic season, and the Pirates said he likely won’t be without him for long. So, he made good use of his time.
In the first inning, he hit a 100 mph two-seamer off Juan Soto and followed it up by striking out potential MVP Aaron Judge with a nasty breaking ball.
Skenes, an LSU alum, is dating LSU Tigers gymnastics coach and social media sensation Livvy Dunne, a New Jersey native. Not far from her hometown, Dunne took a trip to the Bronx to see her boyfriend, and she was impressed.
He pitched one more inning, but his final pitch of the season was another two-seamer, this one to Jazz Chisholm Jr., the Yankees’ third baseman looking to hit a triple. Skenes is up six, down six in his last outing.
Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws during the second inning of the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Sept. 28, 2024, New York City. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
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Skenes finished his first MLB season with a 1.96 ERA, the lowest among pitchers with more than 100 innings pitched. It is also the lowest by a rookie in the live ball era (since 1920). He also struck out 11.5 batters in nine innings and had a WHIP of 0.95.
The 22-year-old is ineligible for the ERA title because pitchers need to pitch one inning per game (normally, 162 innings) to do so, and he has thrown 133 this year.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. (Photos by Brad Penner-Imagn)
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That will keep him from winning the Cy Young Award, but he’s already an ace and will be in that conversation for a long time.
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