Paul Skenes

Though he continued to both pitch and catch, his future was settled. He would throw fastballs in the major leagues. If he had stayed at Air Force past his sophomore year, he would have triggered an active duty commitment. Reluctantly, he transferred to LSU and pitched the Tigers to the 2023 College World Series title.

Though he continued to both pitch and catch, his future was settled. He would throw fastballs in the major leagues. If he had stayed at Air Force past his sophomore year, he would have triggered an active duty commitment. Reluctantly, he transferred to LSU and pitched the Tigers to the 2023 College World Series title.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, who held the first pick in the 2023 draft, coveted a hitter. If you asked me in March or early April who the number one would be, Charrington says, I'd have said, I don't know, but I can tell you it will be a position player. Pitchers are riskier, their amateur success is harder to extrapolate to the big leagues, and the Pirates already had several promising young starters.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, who held the first pick in the 2023 draft, coveted a hitter. If you asked me in March or early April who the number one would be, Charrington says, I'd have said, I don't know, but I can tell you it will be a position player. Pitchers are riskier, their amateur success is harder to extrapolate to the big leagues, and the Pirates already had several promising young starters.

And then, Charrington continues, Paul just kept doing extraordinary things. Late in the college season, the model that the pirates used to assess talent started projecting Skeens as the top pick. We literally kept asking, can this be right, Sherrington says. But it got to be clear enough in our system that it wasn't even close. And it just became, this is a different kind of pitcher.

And then, Charrington continues, Paul just kept doing extraordinary things. Late in the college season, the model that the pirates used to assess talent started projecting Skeens as the top pick. We literally kept asking, can this be right, Sherrington says. But it got to be clear enough in our system that it wasn't even close. And it just became, this is a different kind of pitcher.

We should probably take him. At first glance, Skeens looks like the most complete incarnation yet of a specific type of analytics-friendly pitcher. One who seems purpose-built to hurl fastballs and sliders as hard as he can for as long as he can before ceding the mound to relievers. And at some level, that's what he is.

We should probably take him. At first glance, Skeens looks like the most complete incarnation yet of a specific type of analytics-friendly pitcher. One who seems purpose-built to hurl fastballs and sliders as hard as he can for as long as he can before ceding the mound to relievers. And at some level, that's what he is.

But Skeens' path to becoming a top pitching prospect was different from everyone else's. As a catcher, he wasn't exposed to a recruiting subculture that emphasizes pitch velocity and spin rate more than actually getting batters out in games.

But Skeens' path to becoming a top pitching prospect was different from everyone else's. As a catcher, he wasn't exposed to a recruiting subculture that emphasizes pitch velocity and spin rate more than actually getting batters out in games.

He wasn't on that summer grinder circuit and doing velo programs since he was four, Charrington says, referring to training routines designed to increase pitch velocity. And maybe, Charrington added, you start to think that he's this good because he didn't do all those modern pitcher things.

He wasn't on that summer grinder circuit and doing velo programs since he was four, Charrington says, referring to training routines designed to increase pitch velocity. And maybe, Charrington added, you start to think that he's this good because he didn't do all those modern pitcher things.

In fact, Skeens shows signs of evolving into another kind of pitcher, one in the image of those durable starters who preceded him. I do think that, knock on wood, Paul Skeens has the capability over the next two or three years of starting to finish games, Charrington says. Skeens hopes so.

In fact, Skeens shows signs of evolving into another kind of pitcher, one in the image of those durable starters who preceded him. I do think that, knock on wood, Paul Skeens has the capability over the next two or three years of starting to finish games, Charrington says. Skeens hopes so.

As a former position player, he's accustomed to being in the lineup every day and rarely being removed during a game. The goal is to go out there and pitch nine innings every time, he says now. That's not going to happen, but I try to get outs as quickly and efficiently as possible and hopefully have the bullpen throw as little as possible.

As a former position player, he's accustomed to being in the lineup every day and rarely being removed during a game. The goal is to go out there and pitch nine innings every time, he says now. That's not going to happen, but I try to get outs as quickly and efficiently as possible and hopefully have the bullpen throw as little as possible.

Such efficiency was crucial when starters expected to get through games. These days, it clashes with another dictum of baseball analytics that the only controllable outcome of an at-bat for a pitcher, at least in a positive sense, is the strikeout.

Such efficiency was crucial when starters expected to get through games. These days, it clashes with another dictum of baseball analytics that the only controllable outcome of an at-bat for a pitcher, at least in a positive sense, is the strikeout.

Once a ball is hit, what happens next will depend on an amalgamation of factors, including the ability of the fielders, how hard the wind is blowing, and pure luck. Those lazy outfield flies might just end up in the stands. To avoid that, when pitchers get ahead in the count, they usually throw a pitch or two nowhere near the plate.

Once a ball is hit, what happens next will depend on an amalgamation of factors, including the ability of the fielders, how hard the wind is blowing, and pure luck. Those lazy outfield flies might just end up in the stands. To avoid that, when pitchers get ahead in the count, they usually throw a pitch or two nowhere near the plate.