In just over a year, Paul Skenes has ascended from collegiate stardom to Major League phenom, thrilling Pittsburgh Pirates fans with his electrifying fastballs and devastating splitter.
After dominating college baseball in 2021, right-handed fireballer Paul Skenes has already made an unforgettable impact in the Major Leagues, dazzling crowds with his unparalleled velocity and devastating arsenal of pitches.
Two Saturdays ago, Skenes made his grand debut at a sold-out PNC Park, showcasing his astonishing array of pitches, including 102 mph fastballs, a splitter touching 96, and a changeup near 90. The 21-year-old Pirates phenom struck out seven batters, leaving an indelible mark on the crowd of 34,924.
Longtime bookmaker and Pirates fan Dave Sharapan described the excitement surrounding Skenes' arrival: "I see hope. I see excitement. I see an ace. They’re gonna build this team around him and Jared Jones."
Skenes' second start was just as electrifying, as he took the mound at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. In a thrilling display of dominance, he struck out the first three batters he faced, followed by the next three batters, and capped off his impressive performance by striking out the seventh batter. The eighth batter grounded out, eliciting a chorus of boos from the crowd.
Over six no-hit innings, Skenes reached 100 pitches and struck out an astonishing 11 batters with only one walk. Sharapan, who witnessed Skenes' brilliance firsthand, exclaimed, "There’s going to be a buzz every time he pitches."
The speed and movement of Skenes' pitches have captivated fans and analysts alike. Sharapan praised the movement on his splitter, describing it as "stupid" and reaching 95 mph. He also noted, "That’s after fastballs at 101. Now I know why the Pirates signed Yasmani Grandal. They needed a veteran catcher that could defend himself."
From a betting standpoint, Skenes' arrival has sent the market into a frenzy. His strikeout prop opened at [O/U] 6.5 and surged to -130 on the Over, resulting in a seven-strikeout outing. The books set the strikeout prop at 6.5 again in his second start, but Skenes obliterated that mark by striking out 11 Cubs batters.
As Skenes continues to impress, his odds to win National League Rookie of the Year have plummeted from around 25-1 to a modest 5-1 at most shops. However, the frontrunner remains Cubs' left-hander Shota Imanaga, followed by Dodgers' right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto at 4-1 and Skenes' Pirates teammate, Jared Jones, around 15-2.
Sharapan commented on the rapidly changing odds, stating, "These markets move exponentially. This isn’t going from 20-1 to 18-1 and slow nudging the price down. You can easily see a guy go from 20-1 to 10-1 after a couple of starts. Then it goes from 10-1 to 5-1."
The impressive performance of Skenes has also prompted DraftKings Sportsbook to adjust their season strikeout market. Initially set at 109.5 before Skenes' first start, the number has soared to 152.5, representing a remarkable 43 Ks higher than the opening figure.
Sharapan acknowledged the aggressive adjustments made by the sportsbooks, saying, "They got to the right number. But that’s a big ol’ middle!"
As Skenes continues to wow bettors and bookmakers alike, it's clear that the Pittsburgh Pirates have unearthed a true gem who is quickly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young talents in Major League Baseball.
