Major League Baseball is finally back, bringing the Pittsburgh Pirates a fresh start for the 2025 season.
After finishing with a 76-86 record each of the past two seasons, the Pirates have optimism as Opening Day ushers in a new season, primarily due to superstar pitcher Paul Skenes. Skenes had a historic rookie season for Pittsburgh in 2024 and was named an All-Star and National League Rookie of the Year.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield made an insane prediction that the young fireballer will pick up where he left off in 2025 and have the best season ever for a Pirates starting pitcher.
“The Pirates have had only two Cy Young winners — Vern Law in 1960 and Doug Drabek in 1990, neither of which were particularly historic seasons (both clock in at 4.2 WAR, low for a Cy Young winner),” Schoenfield wrote.
“Predicting Skenes to win the Cy Young isn’t exactly bold, so let’s go with this: Skenes has the best season ever for a Pirates starter, at least in the lively ball era. The best marks since 1920 are John Candelaria’s 7.4 WAR (1977), Bob Veale’s 2.05 ERA (1968) and Veale’s 276 strikeouts (1965). Skenes could top all three of those marks.”
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Skenes only got called up to the big leagues last season in May. He may have broken one or more of these records had he played a full season. Skenes had an 11-3 record with a blistering 1.96 ERA, striking out 170 batters in only 23 games and came in third in Cy Young Award voting.
Pittsburgh has one of the most electric players in baseball in Skenes. If Schoenfield’s bold prediction comes to pass, Skenes may lead the Pirates to the postseason this year.
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