Paul Skenes makes MLB history with another stellar season despite Pirates’ playoff drought
Paul Skenes’ remarkable season has come to a close. Such is the reality for the Pittsburgh Pirates when postseason aspirations are far from their reach. We now know the date of Skenes’ last performance: Wednesday night.
And what a performance it was. The young ace delivered six innings of dominance, allowing just four hits while striking out seven batters. In doing so, Skenes etched his name into the annals of Major League Baseball history, becoming the first pitcher to achieve a unique statistical feat, as noted by Stats Perform’s Greg Harvey.
A Historic Achievement
Skenes has now completed back-to-back seasons with an ERA under 2.00. He also struck out at least 10.0 batters per nine innings and logged more than 100 innings pitched. What makes this milestone even more impressive is that he accomplished it in his first two seasons as a professional.
This record applies to any two seasons in a pitcher’s career, but Skenes chose to establish this benchmark right out of the gate.
Living Up to the Hype
In recent years, a host of talented young players have made their mark in the majors. While many have lived up to their expectations, few have done so with the consistency and flair exhibited by Skenes. His exceptional performance deserves greater recognition, yet the lack of a competitive team around him has somewhat muted his brilliance.
Imagine if the Pirates were contending for a playoff spot; Skenes’s contributions would undoubtedly shine even brighter in high-stakes situations. Instead, he finds himself toiling for a team that frequently struggles to secure wins, particularly on days he takes the mound.
Looking Ahead
As Skenes wraps up this impressive start to his career, the future remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: there is no other pitcher quite like him in the game today. His talent and skill set position him as one of the brightest stars in baseball, even if he currently finds himself out of the playoff picture.
The baseball community eagerly anticipates how Skenes will build on this promising foundation in the seasons to come.
