Paul Skenes is stepping into the new season looking every bit the reigning Cy Young winner. Dominant and poised, he’s already showcasing midseason form before the first pitch of Opening Day.
In his final spring training performance, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace dismantled the Toronto Blue Jays lineup, delivering four shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out five. The Pirates summed it up perfectly: “Nothing but Skenes.” It’s hard to argue with that.
Fresh off a stint with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Skenes showed no signs of slowing down. Despite not reaching triple digits on the radar gun-topping out at 97.2 mph-he still managed to overpower hitters with his command and pitch variety.
That’s his secret sauce. He doesn’t need to rely solely on velocity to dominate.
Nothing but Skenes.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 21, 2026
4IP | 1H | 0R | 5K pic.twitter.com/pkQ6ORVrCd
There were moments where his command wavered, evidenced by three walks, but his ability to quickly regain control stood out. Manager Don Kelly highlighted this as a key strength. “He had some bits and pieces there where you kind of felt like he lost command, but that’s the thing that he’s got the ability to do: rein it back in and make pitches when he has to.”
This knack for adjusting on the fly sets Skenes apart. Many pitchers can dominate when everything clicks, but few can recover as swiftly when it doesn’t.
Skenes’ performance is just another chapter in his historic run. After a stellar season with a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts, culminating in the National League Cy Young Award, he’s carried that excellence into 2026. His World Baseball Classic efforts only solidified his status, as he stifled top-tier international lineups.
There was never a question about who would take the mound on Opening Day for Pittsburgh. The Pirates confirmed it, and that one-word announcement said it all.