Some pitchers are defined by their stats. Others are defined by their sheer force of will. Paul Skenes is more or less both. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ young ace is delivering greatness at a rate well beyond his years. He consistently shuts down opposing lineups, giving his team a chance to win every fifth day. But following one of his more recent masterstrokes against a division rival, the deepest praise wasn’t about his ERA. It was about his mind.

That performance came against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 8. Skenes delivered an absolute masterclass on the mound. He pitched 7.2 awesome innings, gave up no earned runs on only two hits. He struck out seven and walked one. According to Statcast, his pitches were electric, particularly his fastball and sinker. Despite this heroic effort, Skenes earned a no-decision. The Pirates eventually end up victorious 2-1, but his outing highlighted a recurring theme: his individual excellence often outshines the team’s results.

This exact dynamic sparked a raw and insightful conversation among MLB insiders. On MLB Network, the crew discussed Skenes’ incredible maturity. Analyst Mark DeRosa posed a question about his veteran presence. Co-host Lauren Shehadi immediately recalled her first impression of him at spring training. “I came back… what did I say?” she remarked. “I said, there’s no way this guy’s going to fail. He’s different. The great ones always are.” Her words captured a sentiment felt by many who watch him.

DeRosa then expanded on what makes Skenes so different. He explained that elite players think on another level. “What he did after the season he had last year, he went out and tinkered with his repertoire,” DeRosa said. He pointed out that Skenes added a sinker and other pitches. This isn’t typical for a flamethrower. “When you have multiple secondary pitches… I go to plan B, I go to plan C. He’s got D and E.” This thoughtful evolution is the mark of a true pitcher, not just a thrower.

That’s obviously some lofty praise that the numbers definitely support. Skenes has been sensational in 14 starts this year. He is the possessor of a shiny 1.88 ERA, the sixth-best in the majors. His 0.84 WHIP is third-best in the league, an indication of how few baserunners he allows. He has 92 strikeouts in 91 innings, and batters have only hit a .173 batting average. This isn’t simply strong; this is the stat line of a bona fide ace.

Paul Skenes’ sophomore surge: Even better than advertised

This season is not a fluke; it’s a clear progression. For some reason, Skenes is even better than his historic 2024 rookie stint. And his ERA has dipped from 1.96 to 1.88. His WHIP has been reduced from 0.95 to an even stingier 0.84. He is getting outs more efficiently, showing he can adjust as the league adjusts to him. This avoids the dreaded “sophomore slump” and paints the picture of laying the groundwork for something great. He’s building on his success, not just repeating it.

His manager, Don Kelly, sees this elite mentality every day. “He doesn’t change,” Kelly observed, noting his consistency regardless of run support. Kelly has even compared him to legends like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. He describes Skenes as a “pitcher, not a thrower,” and “definitely a guy you want to build around.” This is the ultimate praise from a manager who sees his ace’s unflinching focus firsthand, even when the team struggles.

Perhaps the strongest words come from Skenes himself. He understands the burden he carries. “I think we owe something to the city,” he stated with conviction. “It’s our job to go out and win for the city because this is bigger than all of us.” He acknowledged that friendship doesn’t win titles; execution does. “We got to figure it out,” he said, showing a level of accountability far beyond his years. This is the voice of a true leader.

This leadership is desperately needed. The Pirates currently own a disappointing 26-40 record, sitting last in their division. The offense ranks near the bottom of the league in batting average (26th) and home runs (29th). While a future ace like Bubba Chandler waits in the wings, the present belongs to Skenes. He is the beacon of hope for the entire franchise. Can one man’s relentless pursuit of greatness finally change a team’s fortunes?