Paul Skenes is a professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB). He gained national prominence as a collegiate athlete at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he was a dominant pitcher. In 2023, Skenes achieved a remarkable 13-2 win-loss record with a 1.69 earned run average (ERA) and set a Southeastern Conference (SEC) single-season strikeout record with 209 strikeouts in 122.2 innings pitched. His performance earned him numerous honors, including the 2023 Dick Howser Trophy, National Player of the Year awards from Collegiate Baseball, and multiple SEC Pitcher of the Week recognitions. He was instrumental in leading LSU to a College World Series championship, where he was named the Most Outstanding Player[1][2][4]. Before transferring to LSU, Skenes attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he was a two-way player, excelling both as a catcher and pitcher, and achieving a .410 batting average as a freshman. His unique dual-role success and pitching prowess attracted attention from major baseball programs[2][5]. Selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Skenes quickly progressed through the minor leagues, posting a 0.99 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 27.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis. He made his major league debut on May 11, 2024, and despite a challenging first outing, recorded seven strikeouts, signaling his potential at the highest level[2][3]. Skenes made history in 2024 by becoming the first rookie pitcher since 1995 to start the MLB All-Star Game. He pitched a scoreless inning in the game, retiring prominent hitters. His rookie season included multiple accolades such as National League (NL) Rookie of the Month, NL Rookie of the Year, and selection to the Baseball America Major League All-Rookie Team. In 2025, he continued to earn honors, including the NL Cy Young Award and MLB Players Choice NL Outstanding Pitcher, highlighting his rapid rise as one of baseball’s elite pitchers[3][4][7].