Pittsburgh Review

Paul Skenes has quickly risen to prominence in Major League Baseball, transitioning from the No. 1 Draft pick to a dominant pitcher within just one year. Currently holding the title of National League Rookie of the Year and being a Cy Young Award finalist, Skenes is poised for further growth as he enters his first full season in 2025 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

There are several areas where Skenes can enhance his performance next season. One such area is his use of the "splinker," a hybrid sinker/splitter pitch that has already made waves in the league. Statcast classifies it as a sinker with a velocity of 94 mph and a significant drop of over 30 inches, surpassing other MLB sinkers by more than seven inches. This pitch has proven effective, particularly in putaway counts like 0-2, 1-2, and 2-2, where Skenes achieved strikeouts 27% of the time using it—higher than any other pitch in his arsenal.

Despite its effectiveness, Skenes used the splinker only 13% of the time in these critical situations last season. Increasing its usage could yield even more strikeouts compared to his reliance on four-seamers or sweepers during similar counts.

Another area for improvement is Skenes' changeup. Although initially underutilized during most of last season, it became highly effective when he increased its usage rate from September onwards. The changeup averages at 87 mph and provides an additional layer to his pitching repertoire due to its above-average movement both vertically and horizontally.

Skenes demonstrated confidence using this pitch against right-handed hitters towards the end of last season—a strategy not commonly employed by pitchers due to potential risks associated with facing same-side batters—and achieved notable success including multiple strikeouts against seasoned players like Paul Goldschmidt.

Finally, adjusting how he pitches against right-handed batters presents another opportunity for growth next year. While his fastball was predominantly aimed at dominating outside edges akin to Jacob deGrom's style last season—resulting in fewer inside pitches—Skenes might benefit from increasing up-and-in fastballs given their overpowering velocity combined with substantial arm-side run.

As fans anticipate what lies ahead for Paul Skenes’ promising career trajectory within professional baseball circles; they will be watching closely whether these strategic adjustments help him reach new heights throughout upcoming seasons starting next year alongside teammates representing Pittsburgh Pirates franchise across various competitions nationwide & beyond globally alike!