PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes isn’t concentrating on the potential Cy Young speech that might come his way just before Thanksgiving. The ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates is also dismissing the elite players he’s been compared to in his first two seasons in the majors.
At just 23, Skenes focuses on winning games rather than accolades. Unfortunately for him and the Pirates, their performance hasn’t been robust enough, leading them to another last-place finish in the NL Central.
Despite believing in his professional growth during his inaugural full MLB season, Skenes is more concerned about how the Pirates will regroup over the winter than about the recognition he might receive, including becoming the first player in four decades to win both the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young in consecutive years.
“This is a wasted year if we don’t learn from it,” Skenes stated, emphasizing that the team’s lack of success means they have to recognize their shortcomings and improve. “I believe we can make the necessary adjustments to grow.”
This season, which started with hopes of returning to contention, quickly unraveled after a poor 12-26 start, resulting in manager Derek Shelton’s dismissal. Although Don Kelly has managed to stabilize the team, Skenes has been their standout performer. However, as the Pirates prepared for their final home series against the Athletics, they had lost 11 out of 12 games, ensuring they would record their 29th losing season since 1992.
With the worst offense in Major League Baseball, Skenes faces a unique challenge despite holding an impressive 2.03 ERA, 209 strikeouts, and a .199 batting average against. Heading towards his last start of the season, he holds a 10-10 record, which is noteworthy as no starting pitcher has ever won the Cy Young with a .500 record or lower.
Skenes expresses a desire for improvement within the team and emphasizes the importance of personal accountability among players. He recognizes the potential for a strong rotation next season, but he also acknowledges that past optimism didn’t translate into results. “It’s imperative that we take a hard look at ourselves and make the necessary sacrifices for improvement,” he said, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
