Paul Skenes

If the continued emphasis on throwing hard makes them all but interchangeable, the unique confrontation of pitcher against hitter that constitutes the heart of the game will lose its intrigue. Scherzer has been proselytizing his argument for several years, as MLB has continued to study the issue with what appears to be more intellectual curiosity than urgency.

If the continued emphasis on throwing hard makes them all but interchangeable, the unique confrontation of pitcher against hitter that constitutes the heart of the game will lose its intrigue. Scherzer has been proselytizing his argument for several years, as MLB has continued to study the issue with what appears to be more intellectual curiosity than urgency.

To every member of all the committees, he says, and shakes his head. Nobody listens. Skeens is 6'6 and 260 pounds. That's large for a baseball player, even in the era of huge multi-talented athletes, and would rank him among the two or three biggest pitchers in the Sports Hall of Fame.

To every member of all the committees, he says, and shakes his head. Nobody listens. Skeens is 6'6 and 260 pounds. That's large for a baseball player, even in the era of huge multi-talented athletes, and would rank him among the two or three biggest pitchers in the Sports Hall of Fame.

He was recruited to the Air Force Academy's baseball team to play catcher, but his size and strength made him an especially effective pitcher. By the time he arrived there, he was already too large to fit inside the cockpit of a fighter jet, which was his original ambition. During his freshman season, he threw a pitch recorded at 100 miles per hour.

He was recruited to the Air Force Academy's baseball team to play catcher, but his size and strength made him an especially effective pitcher. By the time he arrived there, he was already too large to fit inside the cockpit of a fighter jet, which was his original ambition. During his freshman season, he threw a pitch recorded at 100 miles per hour.

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.