The best is yet to come for Paul Skeens. He looked like a longtime ace on Saturday.
The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the right-handed pitcher with the first overall pick last year, and after achieving overwhelming results in the minor leagues, he was called up to the major leagues in May.
Due to his overwhelming performance, he was selected as an All-Star and was named the National League's starting pitcher.
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Paul Skeens and Livivi Dunn (Getty Images)
Saturday's game against the New York Yankees was his final start of his historic season, but the Pirates said they probably wouldn't keep him on the bump for too long. So he made the most of his time.
In the first inning, he struck out Juan Soto with a 100 mph two-seamer and then wiped out MVP candidate Aaron Judge with a nasty breaking ball.
Skeens, an LSU graduate, is dating Libby Dunn, a New Jersey native and gymnast for the LSU Tigers and social media sensation. Dan traveled to the Bronx, not far from her hometown, to watch her boyfriend and was impressed.
He only pitched one more inning, but his final pitch of the season was another devastating two-seamer, again to Jazz Chisholm Jr., for the Yankees third baseman to strike three. . Skeens was 6 up and 6 down in the final game.
Paul Skeens of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the bottom of the second inning of a game against the New York Yankees on September 28, 2024 at Yankee Stadium in New York City. (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
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Skeens finished his first MLB season with a 1.96 ERA, the lowest of any pitcher who pitched at least 100 innings. This is the lowest ever for a rookie in the real ball era (since 1920). He also struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings and had a WHIP of 0.95.
The 22-year-old is ineligible to win the ERA title because pitchers are required to pitch one inning per game (usually 162 innings), but he pitched 133 innings this year.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skeens pitches in the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. (Brad Penner Imagen Images)
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That would likely keep him from winning the Cy Young Award, but he's already an ace and will be in the conversation for a long time.
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