In just 11 Major League starts for Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes, he’s proven why he’s the National League starter on the mound for the 2024 All-Star Game. Maybe he’s a possible Cy Young winner this year? We’ll see.
He’s compiled a 1.90 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts in just 66.1 innings. I mean, that’s the whole story right there. But why is he so darn unhittable?
Thanks to Rob Friedman AKA @PitchingNinja, we have an answer: if you’re a hitter, you’re trying to get your bat on triple-digit fastballs. But then a pitch comes at you that LOOKS like the fastball on the outside … and then it dips into the zone because it’s not a fastball. It’s a slider.
Ouch.
Paul Skenes, 99mph Fastball (noncompetitive pitch/ ball) and 85mph Back Door Slider (backwards K), Individual Pitches + Overlay.
Why you'd give up on Paul Skenes's back door slider. pic.twitter.com/jrfIZGf80a
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 12, 2024
Paul Skenes' 11 games played are the fewest of all-time by an MLB All-Star, per @SlangsOnSports pic.twitter.com/c8ahdev7w5
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 12, 2024
