In the 2023 MLB Draft, Paul Skenes was drafted number one overall out of LSU by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Skenes has a fastball and a sinker both sitting near 100 miles per hour, while moving in opposite directions. He has also been known to occasionally be able to throw a ball 102 miles per hour. Along with this, he is equipped with one of the best curveballs in the league.

So far in 2025, Skenes has struck out almost 70% of the batters he has faced,  As he sports an ERA under 2 and puts less than 1 baserunner per inning. It seems like every game he pitches has the chance to be a no hitter. At just 23 year old, he has already started the all star game and won rookie of the year, even though he has only pitched half a season to this point.

Baseball Savant, which is a tool used by MLB teams and scouts to grade players based on their percentile rankings, has Skenes listed as the highest overall pitcher in pitching run value. Meaning he is considered the most effective pitcher in major league baseball. The betting pool supports that with the odds of Skenes winning the Cy Young award which is given out every year to the best pitcher in every league being plus 300.

Before he won the college baseball world series playing with the LSU Tigers, he was at an AirForce military college. In fact, during his junior year of highschool his current hundred mile per hour fastball was only going 86 miles per hour. While he was playing in the Air Force he was a position player. He caught at the Air Force before he made his way to LSU and started dominating players with his 1.69 ERA.

Already in Skenes young career he has amazed fans and players alike. With his dominant pitches and pinpoint accuracy he is undoubted to be a dominant force in the league. His career will be exciting to watch for many years to come.