Pirates' Paul Skenes projected to do something only 12 other pitchers have done

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has already validated the pre-draft hype that surrounded him, and ESPN’s latest forecast suggests he is on the cusp of joining one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs. Jeff Passan projects the right-hander to capture a second consecutive National League Cy Young Award, a feat accomplished by only 12 pitchers in the modern era.

Skenes stormed through his debut 2024 season, posting an 11-3 record, a 1.96 ERA and earning his first All-Star nod. He followed that a year later with a 1.97 ERA, a second All-Star selection and the NL Cy Young. Entering the new campaign, the 23-year-old is refining a new pitch to complement a fastball that already sits among the league’s most overpowering.

Passan’s full projection: 18-4, 2.03 ERA, 206 innings, 251 strikeouts, 48 walks and 11 home runs allowed—numbers that would position Skenes to repeat as the league’s top pitcher. The most recent pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Youngs was Detroit’s Tarik Skubal in the American League. Before him, Jacob deGrom did it in 2018-19. The all-time list also includes Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux.

While the forecast is bullish, the path is not guaranteed. Skenes will need to stay healthy and maintain peak performance amid a grueling 162-game schedule. If he succeeds, he will etch his name alongside some of the most decorated arms in baseball history.