It’s hard to be better than Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has been over his first two Major League seasons. His career is already off to one of the greatest starts in MLB history with an NL Rookie of the Year award, an NL Cy Young award and back-to-back seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA.
Skenes doesn’t have much room for improvement, but his manager, Don Kelly, believes he has the work ethic to keep getting better.
“I think the thing that stands out with Paul is his consistency, the way that he approaches every single day,” Kelly told the media on the Pirates’ first day of spring training. “He’s always striving to get better. He doesn’t want to be good, he wants to be great…The personal stuff is secondary. Paul Skenes wants to win, and that’s what drives him every single day…Nobody’s gonna push Paul Skenes harder than he pushes himself.”
That was evident last year, when Skenes solidified himself as arguably the best pitcher in baseball by leading the Major Leagues in ERA and FIP. Many players regress after a strong rookie season as the league adjusts to them, but Skenes made himself even better.
Story continues below advertisement
Can he do that again this year? Kelly believes anything’s possible when it comes to his ace.
“I think Paul Skenes could do anything on the pitcher’s mound…I’m excited to see what he’s gonna be able to do throughout his career,” Kelly added. “I think it’s that daily grind, that daily work ethic that is instilled in him that’s going to allow him to be the best…”
The sky is the limit for Skenes, who’s already laying the foundation for a Hall of Fame career at 23 years old. This season could see him pitch deeper into games and throw more innings now that he has two MLB seasons under his belt, especially if Pittsburgh competes for a playoff spot as expected.
Story continues below advertisement
More Pirates: 2026 Pirates Get Exciting Projection For Best Season In Years