BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to have Paul Skenes take the mound for their opening day, a decision that manager Derek Shelton found straightforward to make.
Skenes, a 22-year-old right-handed pitcher, impressed during his inaugural season in the majors. He finished the 2024 season with an 11-3 record and a commendable 1.96 ERA over 23 starts, which earned him the title of NL Rookie of the Year.
On Saturday, the Pirates shared a video on social media featuring the moment Shelton informed Skenes of his starting position. In an informal meeting, Skenes entered Shelton’s office, where the manager, after asking about Skenes’s bullpen session and overall condition, confirmed that he would be pitching on the season’s opening day against Miami on March 27. The exchange ended with a handshake and a congratulatory hug from Shelton, who warmly said, “Congrats, brother,” to the promising pitcher. Skenes replied with a simple, “Appreciate it.”
Skenes has been diligently refining his pitching skills, adding a cutter and a running two-seam fastball to complement his already powerful four-seam fastball. These additions are expected to enhance his prowess on the field, setting the stage for what could be another stellar season.
