Former MLB great Tom Glavine has high praise for Pittsburgh Pirates' rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, citing his exceptional talent and potential for greatness. Skenes has taken the baseball world by storm since his MLB debut and has quickly become one of the most promising young pitchers in the game.
Tom Glavine, a two-time Cy Young Award winner and Hall of Famer, has heaped praise upon Pittsburgh Pirates' rookie sensation Paul Skenes, acknowledging his extraordinary talent and potential for greatness.
"Skenes has obviously burst onto the scene," said Glavine during an appearance on OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich." "Had a ton of success, and for obvious reasons. The stuff is there. There is not much to not like about him, if anything."
Paul Skenes' Rise to Stardom: Tom Glavine Praises Pirates' Young Ace
Skenes, who was selected by the Pirates with the first overall pick in the 2023 draft out of LSU, has been a revelation since making his MLB debut in May 2024. In 20 starts, the 22-year-old right-hander has compiled a remarkable 10-2 record with a minuscule 2.10 ERA, striking out 151 batters in 120 innings.
His most recent outing saw him shatter the Pirates' franchise record for strikeouts in a season, breaking the previous mark of 142 set in 1900.
Paul Skenes' Rise to Stardom: Tom Glavine Praises Pirates' Young Ace
Glavine believes that Skenes' continued success hinges on his ability to stay ahead of the hitters' adjustments.
"But the thing with baseball that so many guys, myself included, have experienced is you have to stay ahead of the curve a little bit," Glavine explained. "There was an unknown factor, so to speak, with Paul when he came up. I mean, you can watch all the video you want on guys, but you don’t know what guys are like until you step in the batter’s box and you start to see their pitches and see how they react in the batter's box."
Paul Skenes' Rise to Stardom: Tom Glavine Praises Pirates' Young Ace
"Like anything, once teams start to get a little bit of a book on you, once guys have started to see you a little bit, the familiarity takes over a little, and you have to make some subtle changes. I’m not saying he … I’m not sitting here saying, ‘Oh my God, he’s gonna have to do a lot of things.' You know, he doesn’t have to do much of anything."
Glavine, who won 305 games and recorded a 3.54 ERA in his illustrious 22-year career, knows firsthand what it takes to sustain success at the highest level.
"Everybody has to make adjustments, right?" he said. "Your stuff is only going to carry you so far, and stuff is great. And it’s a nice asset to have, but it’s only going to carry you so far."
Skenes' outstanding performances have placed him firmly in the National League Rookie of the Year conversation. His rise to prominence has not only bolstered the Pirates' hopes but has also captivated baseball fans nationwide.
As he continues to develop and hone his skills, Paul Skenes has the potential to become one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball. The Pittsburgh Pirates and baseball enthusiasts alike will eagerly await his next outing, as he aims to build upon his impressive start and cement his place among the game's elite.
