Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is making waves in Major League Baseball, but the young pitcher isn't letting the hype get to his head. Despite a stellar season, Skenes remains laser-focused on his performance on the mound, rather than dreaming about accolades like the Cy Young Award.
Skenes' Mindset: Performance Over Praise
Skenes, who led LSU to a national championship and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, has learned to compartmentalize his thoughts. He concentrates on executing his pitches and trusting that the results will follow. "I’ve had the mindset as long as I’ve played baseball that as long as I do the work that stuff will take care of itself," Skenes said.
Ignoring the Noise
The 23-year-old right-hander is drawing comparisons to Dwight Gooden, who followed up Rookie of the Year honors with a Cy Young Award in his second season. While the potential is there, Skenes is determined to block out the distractions. "It’s a test every day to not think about it, not that thinking about it is bad. It’s just not what motivates me," he explained.
Skenes' Stats Speak for Themselves
Despite an 8-9 record, Skenes boasts an MLB-best 2.07 ERA and ranks among the league leaders in several other key categories:
- 0.94 WHIP (tied for third)
- .195 batting average-against
- 161 innings pitched (third)
- 181 strikeouts
- 17 quality starts (tied for fourth)
Whether or not Skenes wins the Cy Young Award, his dedication to his craft is undeniable. He's a player to watch for years to come.