Paul Skenes has been nothing short of dominant since entering Major League Baseball. After being selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes made his MLB debut a little under a year later against the Chicago Cubs. What followed was one of the greatest rookie seasons by a pitcher in recent memory.
Skenes became just the fifth pitcher in MLB history to start the All-Star Game in his rookie season, going a scoreless inning in the National League’s 5-3 loss to the American League. Skenes was not only named the NL Rookie of the Year, but finished third in NL Cy Young voting as well.
While Skenes has enjoyed a multitude of individual successes, the same cannot be said for the Pirates. Since Skenes’ promotion, the Pirates have had an abysmal record of 71-90, including a 12-26 record to start the 2025 season. The Pirates currently sit at the bottom of the NL Central division in the midst of a seven-game losing streak.
Tensions have officially hit a breaking point, as manager Derek Shelton has been relieved of his duties as of this morning.
As the plot worsens in Pittsburgh, fans across the country now have their sight on the 2030 offseason.
In 2030, Skenes will be eligible to hit the open market as a free agent, which, given the situation in Pittsburgh, is almost a guarantee to happen. Skenes will likely command one of the largest contracts given to a pitcher in MLB history, a contract the Pirates will be unlikely to provide, as they currently rank in the bottom third in MLB payroll.
Skenes has drawn comparisons to Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob DeGrom’s 2018 season with the New York Mets. DeGrom was almost unhittable, with an insane ERA of 1.70, but a lack of run support from his team earned him a record of only 10-9 across 32 starts.
As the losses continue to pile on, fans can’t help but feel bad, as there are no signs of light at the end of the tunnel for either Skenes or the Pirates. Fans can only wait in anticipation for 2030, likely the first chance Skenes has to free himself from his misery in Pittsburgh.