The Big Lead

One insane stat shows Paul Skenes' first year in MLB might be the best ever

By J.P. Hoornstra

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at PNC Park on June 8, 2025.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at PNC Park on June 8, 2025. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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For all his early career accolades, Paul Skenes might be underrated.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' ace made his major league debut on May 11, 2024. In little more than a year since, he's 15-9 with a 1.93 ERA in 37 career starts (224 innings). If that ERA looks historically low, it's because it is.

According to Andrew Fillipponi of 97.3 The Fan in Pittsburgh, it's the best start (by ERA) to a pitcher's career in the last 100 years.

Skenes, 23, is showing no signs of a sophomore slump in his second major league season. He leads all major league pitchers in innings (91) and starts (14). He leads the National League in WHIP (0.835), hits allowed per nine innings (5.5), and home runs allowed per nine (0.5).

Along with another second-year pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Skenes is on a short list of NL Cy Young Award favorites.

Unlike Yamamoto, who's had a couple bad starts among the 35 to begin his MLB career, Skenes has yet to experience any kind of hiccup. He's also yet to pitch in the postseason — and appears unlikely to do so in Pittsburgh.

MORE: Yankees broadcaster goes on rant against 'nitwit' Mets fans

The Pirates enter Monday's game against the Miami Marlins with a 26-40 record, last in the NL Central. Will Skenes get a better surrounding cast before he hits free agency, or will he get traded out of Pittsburgh anytime soon?

That's the main question that has dogged Skenes in 2025. His greatness in the game is unquestioned. Even in the context of baseball history, his main competition is himself.

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