After only two Major League seasons, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is already being compared to some of the greatest pitchers in MLB history.
That’s not surprising, as Skenes is off to one of the best career starts any pitcher has ever had. Still, it’s mind-boggling to hear some of the names he’s being compared to.
On Thursday’s episode of MLB Tonight, former All-Star pitcher Dan Plesac likened Skenes to multiple Hall of Famers in a single breath when discussing the reigning NL Cy Young winner’s encouraging workload goals for 2026.
“I love what he said, like 200 innings and however long it’s gonna take into the postseason,” Plesac gushed. “This guy’s a throwback to the days of Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling, John Smoltz. Power pitchers that aren’t afraid to go out there.”
“This guy is a throwback to the days of Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens… power pitchers that aren’t afraid to go out there.”#MLBTonight reacts to Paul Skenes’ comments on the Pirates ramping up for a Postseason push this year. pic.twitter.com/VHvqrKTJxa
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 20, 2026
Plesac pitched against those guys during his career, so he knows what he’s talking about.
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While the Pirates have been careful with Skenes’ workload over his first two seasons, he’s ready for the kid gloves to come off this year.
“I’m planning to throw seven months of baseball starting March 26,” Skenes recently told Jason Mackey of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I don’t know how many innings you play in the postseason, but the plan is to be built up, ramped up for that.”
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The 23-year-old hasn’t missed a start since debuting in 2024, establishing himself as one of the best and most durable pitchers in baseball. If he stays healthy and that trend holds this year, he’ll likely surpass 200 innings for the first time in his career.
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