Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes understands the injury risks that come with pitching, but it's not something he spends much time thinking about.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci, Skenes said "nobody in the big leagues has my stuff" and explained his approach to staying healthy is to study what the most durable pitchers from this generation have done and hope that future generations can look at him as an example.

"Yeah, that’s the goal," Skenes said. "Nobody in the big leagues has my stuff. We’re writing our own book. Because I’ve tried it the other way. It doesn’t work. It’s my game out there. There is no model for me."

Pitcher injuries are one of the biggest concerns facing all 30 MLB teams. A 2024 study conducted by MLB in which over 200 experts from all levels of baseball were interviewed found that the primary driving force of injuries is chasing max velocity and "stuff" quality.

The study found that both injured list placements and days missed on the injured list for pitchers have more than doubled from 2005 to '24. One interesting element was that most of the injuries spike in March during spring training.

Skenes told Verducci he didn't read the MLB study, in part because he's more interested in learning what the non-injured players were doing. He did cite Gerrit Cole as one example of reliability, though Verducci noted that comment came three days before the New York Yankees right-hander got Tommy John surgery.

"I’m trying to know more than anybody else," Skenes added. "There is an element of chance to it. There’s also an element to do everything you can and know your body. And I think that a lot of people they just don’t know what they don’t know. I’m trying to be the first guy to do these things, right?"

It's extremely rare now to find any pitcher, let alone a top one, who hasn't had Tommy John surgery. Justin Verlander made it 17 years in the big leagues before having it in 2021, which seems like a miracle in hindsight.

Cole played 12 full seasons before his elbow blew out in spring training. Shohei Ohtani, Sandy Alcántara, Jacob deGrom, Tyler Glasnow, Shane Bieber, Spencer Strider, Chris Sale and Luis Severino are among the pitchers who have had Tommy John surgery within the last five years.

Skenes isn't throwing his fastball as hard as he did last year with an average velocity of 98.0 mph (down from 98.8 mph in 2024). His sinker is up nearly three miles per hour compared to last season (96.9 to 94.0).

Given how out of the blue these significant injuries to pitcher elbow's seem to be, there's no way to predict if it might happen. You just hope that they are doing everything possible to prepare their arm for the strain of throwing at max effort and things work out okay.

Things have been just fine for Skenes so far with a 2.39 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 37.2 innings in six starts for the Pirates this season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves doing damage control for the second time in three days over a key part of PNC Park being taken down.

Per Chris Hoffman of CBS Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA, Pirates fans had expressed frustration at the disappearance of the "Bucco Bricks" display on the sidewalks outside of the ballpark.

It was later revealed the bricks were dumped at recycling facilities around the city after being removed to accommodate renovations around the stadium.

Brian Warecki, Pirates Senior vice president of communications and broadcasting, said (h/t Alex Stumpf of MLB.com) in a statement released on Tuesday that the bricks would return in a new permanent display that would be unveiled in the near-future:

"Through the years, a host of environmental factors including weather and foot traffic have led to significant damage leading to multiple, full-scale replacements. This cycle of deterioration prompted our organization to look for a better way to preserve these cherished messages over the long term.

"We respect, appreciate and understand just how meaningful these messages are. We share in that feeling. We have been actively planning to develop and unveil a more permanent display for these special messages to honor the enduring support that our fans shared then and continue to share in our future. We look forward to sharing those details soon in celebration of our 25th season."

The Bucco Brick program launched in 1999, giving fans an opportunity to purchase a personalized brick on the main terrace of PNC Park. Proceeds from the purchases go to the Roberto Clemente Foundation.

Stumpf noted an estimated 10,000 bricks have been purchased and the organization maintained a list of names and inscriptions on an Excel list.

The Pirates purchased an empty lot next to PNC Park that they were converting into an entertainment plaza, with the goal to have it ready by their home opener on April 4.

In addition to the Bucco Bricks' situation, the Pirates received criticism over the weekend for replacing a sign on the wall in right field honoring Clemente with an advertisement for an alcoholic beverage.

Pirates president Travis Williams issued an apology on Sunday and took responsibility for the sign issue, calling it an "honest mistake" and "an oversight not to keep the No. 21 logo" in right field.

Williams also said the logo was being restored ahead of Monday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Pirates are playing their 25th season at PNC Park since it opened in 2001. They are off to a 4-8 start this season.

After surrendering a career-high five earned runs in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes isn't going to let a single bad outing rattle him.

"It's not like they hit the ball into the river or anything like that," Skenes said after the loss, per the Associated Press. "They just found some holes and I got behind in some counts and kind of let them get good swings off. Not going to sweat it. It is what it is."

Skenes worked quickly through the first two innings and retired six straight batters, but things quickly fell apart. He gave up three runs to the Cardinals in the third inning and two more in the sixth before being pulled from the game ahead of the seventh. His career record against the Pirates' longtime NL Central rivals is now 0-3.

The 22-year-old phenom said he felt his stuff was "good," but he admitted that he made a few too many mistakes by leaving the ball over the middle of the plate.

"It's funny, a lot of the times you get away with those," Skenes said. "Just didn't get away with them today. Kind of is what it is."

The reigning National League Rookie of the Year added that while he's still developing his chemistry with catcher Endy Rodriguez, he feels like they've made significant progress. Rodriguez missed the entire 2024 season due to UCL surgery.

"We're thinking very similarly. I don't think I shook today," Skenes said. "I'm a fan of the game that he called and that we called together. It just comes down to executing."

Skenes will have the chance to bounce back during his next projected start on April 14 in Pittsburgh's series opener against the Washington Nationals.

The 1-of-1 Topps Chrome rookie debut patch autograph card of Pittsburgh Pirates superstar ace Paul Skenes has sold for $1.11 million at auction.

Fanatics Collect ran the auction, which also included an extended bidding process. All Fanatics Collect proceeds from the card will be donated to LA Fire Relief funds.

The card was pulled by an 11-year-old collector from Los Angeles on Christmas Day. Per Larry Holder of The Athletic, the collector asked his parents for one gift: a 24-pack hobby box of the 2024 Topps Chrome Update Series.

At the time, the race was on to find the valuable card. Sure enough, the 11-year-old found it. One month later, the decision was made to go to auction.

The Pirates selected Skenes, a former LSU star and 2023 NCAA champion, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft.

He didn't have to wait long for a call-up after posting a 0.99 ERA in seven starts (45 strikeouts in 27.1 innings) for Triple-A Indianapolis in 2024.

Skenes made his debut on May 11 and proceeded to dominate MLB, going 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA (0.95 WHIP) in 23 starts. He struck out 170 batters in 133 innings.

The right-hander started the All-Star Game and finished third in the National League Cy Young vote while earning Rookie of the Year honors as well. Unsurprisingly, he'll be starting Opening Day for the Pirates on March 27 against the Miami Marlins.

Skenes looks like he could be the game's top superstar pitcher for some time, in the vein of Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. So it's no surprise that this 1-of-1 rookie card went for such a high price.

Paul Skenes debuted a new pitch during his first spring training start with the Pittsburgh Pirates entering the 2025 season on Saturday.

Skenes showed off his new cutter in a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

"You've just got to mix it in," Skenes explained after the game, via the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "I learned some stuff about it. It's going to be good, I think."

The 2024 National League Rookie of the Year allowed four hits and one earned run in three innings against Baltimore. He also racked up four strikeouts compared to one walk.

Skenes is adding the cutter to his arsenal to complement his signature four-seam fastball. He utilized the four-seamer on 39 percent of his pitches as a rookie, the most of any throw in his repertoire (via Baseball Savant).

Even without the cutter in his inaugural season, Skenes was one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors. He finished with an impressive 11-3 record in 2024, compiling a 1.96 ERA to go along with a 0.947 WHIP.

Skenes also struck out 170 batters while allowing just 32 walks in 133 innings of work.

He finished No. 3 in 2024 NL Cy Young Award voting.

As the Pirates look to take a step forward in 2025 after finishing with a 76-86 record in each of the past two seasons, the debut of Skenes' latest pitch looked promising.

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes finally reunited with his MLB Debut Patch card.

Skenes and his girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, posed with the 1-of-1 card that features his autograph as well as a patch worn by the 22-year-old during his MLB debut in 2024.

Topps announced on Jan. 21 that the card had been pulled by an 11-year-old collector from Los Angeles.

The company later revealed that the collector declined offers from the Pirates and Dunne, choosing to auction it off instead.

Pittsburgh made several large offers before the card was pulled including two Pirates season tickets behind home plate for 30 years, the chance to play in a softball game at PNC Park and a meet and greet with Skenes.

Dunne also extended her own offer in an Instagram story, explaining that whoever pulls the card would have the option to sit with her in a suite at a Pirates game.

After the offers were declined, Fanatics announced that the card would be available during the company's March Premier auction and proceeds will be directly donated to Los Angeles wildfire relief funds.

The card should fetch a hefty price after it received a a perfect grade of 10 by the PSA. Larry Holder of The Athletic reported that there's an "expectation" the card could be sold for "up to $1 million."

Skenes, the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year, turned heads throughout his inaugural season. In 23 starts, he finished with an 11-3 record to go along with a 1.96 ERA and 0.947 WHIP.

Both Skenes and Dunne took the opportunity to see the card in person before it's auctioned.

Offers from the Pittsburgh Pirates and star LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne weren't enough to keep a one-of-a-kind Paul Skenes rookie card from hitting the market.

Topps announced Friday that the 11-year-old from Los Angeles who pulled Skenes' 1-of-1 rookie debut patch autograph card declined the Pirates' offer in favor of an auction.

The card will be available in Fanatics' March Premier auction. Fanatics' proceeds will be sent to Los Angeles wildfire relief funds, according to the brand.

The Pirates have been in public pursuit of the collectible ever since Topps unveiled the card, which features a patch of the jersey Skenes wore during his May 11 debut, in November.

Topps announced on Jan. 21 that the card had pulled by a young collector, who reportedly said in a journal entry shared by the brand that finding the collectible was "a dream come true."

The team and Skenes' girlfriend combined to offer the collector a package including 30 years of season tickets, two autographed jerseys and a spot in Dunne's suite for a Pirates game in exchange for the card.

That apparently wasn't enough to sway the collector given that Topps has reportedly estimated the card's worth at six figures (h/t Sports Collectors Digest.)

That value could be even higher now that the card has received a perfect grade of 10 by the Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA.)

The perfect grade by PSA could bring the card's value as high as $1 million, according to The Athletic's Larry Holder.

Whoever ultimately purchases the card will own a piece of memorabilia from one of the best rookie seasons in the history of MLB's starting pitchers.

Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft, made his MLB debut in 2024. He went 11-3 across 23 starts while putting up a 1.96 ERA and 0.947 WHIP over 133.0 innings. No rookie with at least 20 starts had recorded an ERA that low in over a century, according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo.

Those stats earned Skenes not only the NL Rookie of the Year award but also made him a finalist for the Cy Young.

Now those numbers could also help the 11-year-old collector cash in when the Fanatics Collect March Premier Auction takes place from March 6 to March 20.

Paul Skenes' 1-of-1 autographed MLB debut patch card received a perfect grade of 10 by Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA).

The card, which features an autograph as well as a patch worn by the Pittsburgh Pirates ace during his MLB debut, was pulled by an 11-year-old collector from Los Angeles. Topps made the announcement on Tuesday.

Attributes for a card to received a grade of 10 include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss (via PSA). A perfect card must be free of staining of any kind and the image must also be centered on the card.

When the card featuring Skenes was first revealed, the Pirates declared their intent to secure it. They offered several incentives for whoever pulled the card including including two Pirates season tickets behind home plate for 30 years, a meet-and-greet with Skenes and two autographed jerseys from the pitcher.

The 22-year-old is coming off an impressive rookie season, as he was named National League Rookie of the Year to go along with an All-Star nod. In 23 starts, Skenes compiled an 11-3 record to go along with a 1.96 ERA and 0.947 WHIP.

He also struck out 170 batters while allowing just 32 walks in 133 innings of work.

The value of the card is already high, as Topps estimated that it could ultimately be worth six figures (h/t Sports Collectors Digest). Considering Skenes' strong rookie season, it's easy to see the card fetching a hefty price at auction.

With a perfect PSA grading, the card's value is continuing to increase.

Topps announced Tuesday that an 11-year-old collector from Los Angeles pulled the coveted 1-of-1 autographed MLB debut patch card of Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

The card, which was part of the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set, received a ton of attention when Topps first unveiled it back in November

Shortly after the card was first shown, the Pirates announced their desire to acquire it. Before it was even pulled, the Pirates proactively offered a package of perks in exchange for the card, including two Pirates season tickets behind home plate for 30 years, the chance to play in a softball game at PNC Park, a VIP experience at Pirates training camp, a meet and greet with Skenes and two Skenes autographed jerseys.

That offer still stands.

Skenes' girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, later added to the offer, noting that whoever pulls the card would be welcome to sit with her in a suite at a Pirates game.

The 22-year-old Skenes is coming off one of the best rookie seasons in MLB history for a starting pitcher.

Selected No. 1 overall in the 2023 MLB draft out of LSU, Skenes made 23 starts last season and went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 170 strikeouts over 133 innings.

The hard-throwing righty started the All-Star Game for the National League, won the NL Rookie of the Year Award and finished third in the NL Cy Young Award despite not getting called up until May.

Any Skenes autographed rookie card is valuable, but the MLB debut patch version is especially sought after since it is a one-of-a-kind collectible.

Beginning in 2023, rookies started wearing MLB debut patches on their jerseys when playing in their first career regular-season games. Those patches were then given to Topps for the creation of 1-of-1 cards.

Some big names have been part of the craze, but none come close to the star power and popularity possessed by Skenes.

While the Pirates' offer may be of interest to the collector who pulled the Skenes card and their family, there will likely be other options to weigh.

Sports Collectors Digest estimated in November that the card could ultimately be worth six figures.

Given the excitement surrounding the card, it could fetch a massive number at auction, so there is no guarantee that the Pirates will be given the opportunity to secure it.

The value of the card could continue to climb in the years to come if Skenes remains dominant and puts together a Hall of Fame career, but holding onto it for too long would be a risk given the possibility of injury that always exists with pitchers.