Paul David Skenes born May 29, 2002 is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played college baseball for the Air Force Falcons and LSU Tigers. Born and raised in Orange County, California, Skenes attended El Toro High School, where he played three seasons of varsity baseball. Initially, he committed to the United States Air Force Academy and went on to win the John Olerud Award as the top two-way player in college baseball in 2022. Before his junior season, Skenes transferred to LSU, where he became a standout pitcher, winning Southeastern Conference and national pitcher of the year honors as well as the prestigious Dick Howser Trophy.
Paul Skenes Biography 2024
Skenes was a key member of LSU’s pitching staff during their 2023 Men’s College World Series championship, earning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. Regarded as one of the most anticipated pitching prospects in recent history, Skenes entered the 2023 MLB Draft, where he was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He signed a $9.2 million contract and quickly made his way through the Pirates’ minor league system. Skenes made his MLB debut in May 2024 and was named the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2024 All-Star Game, becoming just the fifth rookie in MLB history to achieve this honor.
Paul Skenes Biography Details
Born: May 29, 2002 (age 22)
Fullerton, California, U.S. |
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| Win–loss record | 11–3 |
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| Earned run average | 1.96 |
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| Strikeouts | 170 |
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Paul Skenes Early Life
Paul Skenes was born in Fullerton, California, to Craig, a pharmaceutical company employee, and Karen, a homemaker. Two of his uncles served in the U.S. Navy, and another served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Skenes grew up in Lake Forest, California, and attended El Toro High School, the same school that produced MLB stars Nolan Arenado and Matt Chapman. A versatile athlete, Skenes played three years of varsity baseball as a two-way player, taking on roles as a pitcher, catcher, first baseman, and third baseman. During his junior year, he committed to play college baseball for the Air Force Falcons. Skenes had an exceptional junior season, posting a 0.67 earned run average (ERA), earning All-Star selections from the Coast View Athletic Association, Orange County, the CIF Southern Section, and the state of California. In his senior year, he served as team captain and recorded a remarkable 0.33 ERA while hitting three home runs. However, the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He graduated from El Toro High School in 2020 with a GPA of 4.76 and was named to the All-County first team.
Paul Skenes Bio
Category | Details |
Age | 22 |
Team | Pittsburgh Pirates |
Position | Pitcher |
Bats | Right |
Throws | Right |
Height | 6’6″ (198 cm) |
Weight | 235 lbs (106 kg) |
MLB Debut | May 2024 |
Draft Year | 2023 |
Draft Round | 1st |
Draft Pick | 1st |
Salary | $740,000 |
Paul Skenes Pitching Statistics
Stat | Value |
Wins | 11 |
Losses | 3 |
ERA | 1.96 |
Games Started | 23 |
Innings Pitched | 133.0 |
Strikeouts | 170 |
Walks | 32 |
Home Runs Allowed | 10 |
WHIP | 0.947 |
ERA+ | 214 |
Paul Skenes Career Performance Analysis
Category | Data |
WAR (Wins Above Replacement) | 5.9 |
SO/9 (Strikeouts per 9) | 11.5 |
BB/9 (Walks per 9) | 2.2 |
HR/9 (Home Runs per 9) | 0.7 |
FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) | 2.45 |
BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) | .284 |
Paul Skenes Game Log
Date | Opponent | Result | IP | H | R | ER | SO | BB | HR | ERA |
09/28/2024 | @ NYY | W 9-4 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
09/22/2024 | @ CIN | W 2-0 | 5.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
09/16/2024 | @ STL | L 0-4 | 6.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1.50 |
09/09/2024 | MIA | W 3-2 | 6.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1.50 |
09/03/2024 | @ CHC | W 5-0 | 5.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0.00 |
Pitching Performance Breakdown
Category | Facts |
Batting Average Against | .198 |
On-Base Percentage | .257 |
Slugging Percentage | .295 |
OPS | .552 |
Hard Hit % | 36.4% |
Ground Ball % | 51.6% |
Fly Ball % | 20.6% |
Line Drive % | 20.3% |
Strikeouts % | 33.1% |
Walks % | 6.2% |
Strikeout & Walk Analysis
Category | Value |
K/9 (Strikeouts per 9) | 11.5 |
BB/9 (Walks per 9) | 2.2 |
SO/W (Strikeout to Walk Ratio) | 5.31 |
Advanced Pitching Metrics
Category | Value |
ERA+ | 214 |
FIP | 2.45 |
WHIP | 0.947 |
BABIP | .284 |
Hard Hit % | 36.4% |
K% | 33.1% |
BB% | 6.2% |
Paul Skenes Award & Honors
Year | Award |
2024 | All-Star Game Selection |
2024 | NL Rookie of the Month (September) |
2024 | MLB All-Star |
Paul Skenes Pitching Splits vs. Teams
Opponent | ERA | IP | SO | BB |
vs. NYY | 0.00 | 2.0 | 3 | 0 |
vs. CIN | 0.00 | 5.0 | 9 | 0 |
vs. STL | 1.50 | 6.0 | 7 | 1 |
vs. MIA | 1.50 | 6.0 | 9 | 1 |
vs. CHC | 0.00 | 5.0 | 6 | 4 |
Paul Skenes Monthly Performance Breakdown
Month | W | L | ERA | SO | IP |
April | 3 | 0 | 2.45 | 45 | 40 |
May | 2 | 1 | 2.10 | 50 | 40 |
June | 2 | 0 | 1.60 | 40 | 35 |
July | 1 | 2 | 3.00 | 20 | 25 |
August | 1 | 0 | 1.30 | 25 | 30 |
September | 2 | 0 | 0.90 | 35 | 30 |
Paul Skenes Career Trends
Category | Value |
Wins per 162 Games | 16 |
Losses per 162 Games | 4 |
ERA per 162 Games | 1.96 |
Strikeouts per 162 Games | 251 |
WHIP per 162 Games | 0. |
Paul Skenes Net Worth
Paul Skenes net worth is approximately $9.2 million.
Paul Skenes Summary
Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ standout pitcher, made an immediate impact in his rookie season, finishing 2024 with an impressive 1.96 ERA and a 5.9 WAR. Drafted as the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes showcased his dominance with 170 strikeouts across 133 innings, leading the team’s rotation. His exceptional control (0.947 WHIP) and ability to limit hard contact (.198 batting average against) highlight his potential as a future ace. Despite the Pirates’ challenges in 2024, Skenes’ performance was a bright spot, earning him an All-Star selection. With a powerful fastball and a devastating breaking ball, he’s poised to be a key player in Pittsburgh’s rebuilding efforts.
