Being in the batters’ box against Paul Skenes is going to become even more dreadful than it already is.
Skenes, 22, arrived at Pirates spring training earlier this week and brought two additional pitches to his arsenal.
The 2024 National League Rookie of the Year is in the process of adding a cutter and a two-seam fastball to his six-pitch repertoire, which includes a 100 mph four-seamer and “splinker,” which was one of the best put-away pitches in MLB last season.
“Just trying to create more swing decisions,” Skenes told reporters Saturday in Bradenton, Fla.
Skenes added that he is looking to get ahead in counts more often this upcoming season, and said the additional pitches can help him get there.
“Anything that looks like a fastball and doesn’t end up being a fastball [helps],” pitching coach Oscar Marin said, according to the Associated Press. “I think we all know how special his fastballs are. [More options are] just something that is going to really open up the zone for him as well.”
The Pirates ace took the majors by storm during his rookie season, finishing with an 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA after being called up in May.
He also struck out 33.1 percent of the batters he faced.
Skenes did confess that although his later-than-expected call-up last year was frustrating, the Pirates did make the right decision.
“They did a really good job with me last year,” Skenes told AP. “I kind of knew, as much as I didn’t want to believe it, that that was how it was going to be when I came into camp.”
The 22-year-old finished third in NL Cy Young voting, along with being the youngest pitcher to start an All Star game since Mets ace Dwight Gooden did in 1984.
Skenes is now gearing up to possibly be the Pirates’ youngest-ever Opening Day starter.
