Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes had one of the better seasons of any player in 2024, but there is one player who he sees above anyone else i

Paul Skenes spent his rookie season dutifully following the Pittsburgh Pirates’ plan to bring their young ace along as slowly and safely as possible. It worked. Maybe better than all involved imagined during an electrifying 2024 in which the towering right-hander started the All-Star Game and captured the National League Rookie of the Year award while becoming perhaps the game's hottest young star in a decade.

Paul Skenes is entering 2025 more at ease with his role as ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates' staff. He also might be entering the year with a couple new pitches. Coming off an electrifying 2024, the reigning National League rookie of the year is tinkering with adding a cutter and a running two-seam fastball to an arsenal that already includes a four-seamer that tops out north of 100 mph and a "splinker" that was one of the best put-away pitches in the majors last season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates had some hopes that they can make it to the playoffs in 2024, with rising star Paul Skenes playing a starring role in their rise to being a competitive team. However, come the middle of the season,