Paul David Skenes Bio
Paul David Skenes is an American professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. Born on May 29, 2002, in Fullerton, California, Skenes has rapidly established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, earning the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2024 and the NL Cy Young Award in 2025. He became the first player to win both awards in consecutive seasons since Dwight Gooden accomplished the feat in 1984 and 1985. Skenes was selected first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut in May 2024, quickly becoming the face of Pittsburgh’s rebuilding franchise.
Early Life and Background
Paul David Skenes was born in Fullerton, California, to Craig, a pharmaceuticals company employee, and Karen, a homemaker and former high school teacher. His family has strong military ties, with two uncles serving in the United States Navy and another in the Coast Guard. Skenes grew up in Lake Forest, California, as a fan of the Los Angeles Angels. He attended El Toro High School, the same school that produced major league players Nolan Arenado and Matt Chapman.
At El Toro High School, Skenes played three years of varsity baseball as a two-way player, contributing as a catcher, first baseman, third baseman, and pitcher. During his junior season, he posted an impressive 0.67 earned run average and earned spots on all-star teams at the conference, county, CIF Southern Section, and state levels. In his senior year, Skenes served as team captain and had a remarkable 0.33 ERA while also hitting three home runs before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He graduated in 2020 with a grade point average of 4.76 and committed to play college baseball at the United States Air Force Academy.
Path to Professional Baseball
Skenes honored his commitment to the United States Air Force Academy, accepting an appointment as part of the class of 2024. In his freshman season, he was named Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and earned first-team All-American honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Baseball America, and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. In 2022, Skenes won the prestigious John Olerud Award, given annually to the nation’s best two-way player in college baseball.
After his sophomore season, Skenes entered the NCAA transfer portal and subsequently transferred to Louisiana State University to play for the LSU Tigers ahead of his junior season. The move proved transformative for his career. On June 22, 2023, Skenes broke Ben McDonald’s SEC and LSU record for strikeouts in a single season, recording his 203rd strikeout of the year. Following the season, he won the National Pitcher of the Year Award, the Dick Howser Trophy, and was named College World Series Most Outstanding Player after helping LSU capture the 2023 national championship.
Paul David Skenes Career
Amateur Career Highlights
Skenes entered the 2023 MLB Draft as one of the most anticipated prospects in recent memory, considered by some analysts as the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg. He was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates, making him the second player in LSU history to be selected first overall in the draft, joining Ben McDonald. He and Dylan Crews became the first college teammates in MLB draft history to be selected with the first two overall picks. Skenes signed with the Pirates on July 18, 2023, for a $9.2 million signing bonus, the highest ever for a drafted player.
Pittsburgh Pirates Breakthrough
Skenes debuted on MLB.com’s MLB Pipeline list as the third-ranked prospect league-wide and the top-ranked pitcher. He worked through the Pirates’ farm system rapidly, appearing for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Pirates in early August 2023 before earning promotions to Single-A Bradenton Marauders and Double-A Altoona Curve within weeks. He began the 2024 season with Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, pitching to a 0.99 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 27 and one-third innings.
On May 11, 2024, the Pirates selected Skenes’ contract and promoted him to the major leagues. In his MLB debut at PNC Park against the Chicago Cubs that day, he threw 17 fastballs at 100 miles per hour or higher and struck out seven batters, though he surrendered three earned runs in four innings. His second start was spectacular, as he threw six hitless innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 17, striking out 11 batters including the first seven he faced.
Rookie Season and All-Star Selection
On July 7, 2024, Skenes was selected to the All-Star Game, becoming the first No. 1 draft pick to earn that honor as a rookie. National League manager Torey Lovullo named him the starting pitcher for the National League on July 11, making him only the fifth rookie in MLB history to receive the selection. He threw a scoreless inning in the All-Star Game, walking Juan Soto before retiring Aaron Judge with a groundout. On September 9, Skenes struck out Connor Norby to record his 143rd strikeout, setting a new Pittsburgh Pirates franchise record for strikeouts in a single season by a rookie. Skenes ended his rookie season with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 170 strikeouts, 32 walks, and an 11-3 record in 23 starts. He was named NL Rookie of the Year and finished third for the Cy Young Award.
Pittsburgh Pirates Present
Skenes entered the 2025 season as one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers. On January 28, 2025, he was named one of three cover athletes for MLB The Show 25, making him the first pitcher, excluding two-way player Shohei Ohtani, to appear on an MLB The Show cover. He was named the Opening Day starting pitcher for the Pirates and pitched effectively throughout the season. On July 6, Skenes was named to his second consecutive All-Star Game roster, and National League manager Dave Roberts selected him as the starting pitcher for the second year in a row.
He was named National League Pitcher of the Month for July after posting a 3-2 record with a 0.67 ERA, allowing only 21 hits and two earned runs while striking out 36 batters in 27 innings. On August 24, Skenes made his 50th career start and lowered his career ERA to 2.02, becoming only the second pitcher since the start of the Live Ball Era in 1920 to have a lower ERA over their first 50 starts than Vida Blue’s 2.01 mark. Skenes recorded his first 200-strikeout season on September 10, becoming the eighth Pirates pitcher in franchise history to accomplish that feat.
Driving Style and Strengths
Skenes has quickly established himself as one of the most overpowering pitchers in baseball. His fastball consistently reaches triple digits, with scouts noting his ability to maintain velocity deep into games. His combination of velocity, movement, and strikeout ability has drawn comparisons to some of the game’s greatest pitchers. Working closely with Pittsburgh’s coaching staff, Skenes has refined his secondary offerings while leveraging his elite fastball as the foundation of his success.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his young career, Skenes has accumulated remarkable accolades at an unprecedented pace. His 2025 season saw him finish with a 1.97 ERA, the first sub-2.00 ERA for a starting pitcher since Justin Verlander’s 1.75 ERA in 2022. He became the fourth player in the live ball era to record an ERA that low in his age-23 season or younger, joining Dwight Gooden, Vida Blue, and Dean Chance. Skenes also set a new franchise record for most strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher with 216, surpassing Mitch Keller’s previous record of 210.
Paul David Skenes Career Wins
Through June 26, 2026, Skenes has compiled a career win-loss record of 27-20 with a 2.22 earned run average and 500 strikeouts across his MLB career. His remarkable strikeout rate and low ERA have made him one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball since his debut.
Pittsburgh Pirates Highlights
Skenes’ most impressive performances have come in a Pirates uniform. In his rookie season of 2024, he went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 23 starts. His 2025 campaign was even more dominant, as he earned the NL Cy Young Award and led the league in ERA while surpassing 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career. His 50th career start produced a ERA of 2.02, placing him among the all-time greats in terms of early-career effectiveness.
Other Achievements
Prior to his professional career, Skenes built an impressive amateur resume. He won the John Olerud Award as a sophomore at Air Force, earned National Pitcher of the Year honors and the Dick Howser Trophy at LSU, and was named College World Series Most Outstanding Player in 2023. His success extended to international competition as he represented the United States at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Paul David Skenes Family
Family Background
Skenes was born to Craig and Karen Skenes in Fullerton, California. His father works in the pharmaceutical industry while his mother was a homemaker and former high school teacher. The family has strong military traditions, with multiple uncles serving in various branches of the U.S. military, including the Navy and Coast Guard.
Personal Life
Skenes is in a relationship with Livvy Dunne, a former LSU gymnast and prominent social media influencer. Skenes has explained that they began dating after his best friend at LSU dated Dunne’s roommate Elena Arenas. The couple has been public about their relationship while both pursuing their respective careers. Skenes continues to reside in Orange County, California, when not on the road with the Pirates.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Skenes’ second year in the major leagues and proved to be his most dominant yet. He was named the Opening Day starting pitcher and continued to establish himself as Pittsburgh’s ace throughout the season. His electric stuff and ability to miss bats at an exceptional rate made him one of the most feared pitchers in the National League.
Skenes earned his second consecutive All-Star selection and was named the starting pitcher for the National League for the second straight year. His performance in the first half of the season, particularly his July work which earned him Pitcher of the Month honors, solidified his status as an elite pitcher. His consistency and durability allowed him to reach the 200-strikeout milestone while maintaining an ERA under 2.00.
The season culminated with Skenes winning the NL Cy Young Award, making him the first player since Dwight Gooden to win both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young in consecutive seasons. His combination of strikeout ability, ERA excellence, and milestone achievements positioned him among baseball’s elite pitchers at just 23 years old. Looking ahead, Skenes appears poised to remain a cornerstone of the Pirates’ rotation for years to come as the franchise continues its rebuild around its talented young core.