"Paul Skenes makes me look like a runway model" - Mets legend comments on Pirates ace's stature after bold prediction

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is coming off an exceptional season, which saw him start the NL All-Star game and win the NL Rookie of the Year. Had he made his debut a little earlier than in May, his numbers would have been so good that he could have won the Cy Young outright instead of coming up third.

When it comes to the best pitchers, they all have multiple Cy Youngs. To name a few from this generation include Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. MLB analyst and Mets legend AL Leiter predicts the same for the Pirates' 2023 first-overall selection.

"With Paul Skenes, how the Pirates handled him to get to the big leagues was remarkable," Leiter said on MLB Network Radio. "His numbers were certainly deserving of Rookie of the Year, and he even got Cy Young votes. What's really special about Paul Skenes is that he's only a couple of years out of college, folks. Not only does he throw a fastball that’s 98 to 100 mph—smooth, easy velocity—but he has multiple pitches."

Skenes’ arsenal is what separates him from most pitchers his age. Alongside his electric fastball, he throws a deceptive changeup—dubbed the “splinter”—that hovers in the low 90s, making it nearly impossible for hitters to sit on one pitch. He complements this with a slider and curveball, offering multiple breaking ball options with varying speeds and movements.

“He’s got three different breaking pitches, and that changeup he spreads his fingers on? That’s just unfair,” Leiter added. “This guy has the attitude, the disposition, and, of course, the stuff to dominate for years. I’ll go on record—Paul Skenes will be a perennial Cy Young winner. He makes me look like a runway model."

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Paul Skenes could join an elite company of pitchers having won both Cy Young and ROY

There have only been a handful of pitchers to have won both prestigious awards. The list includes the likes of Dwight Gooden, Don Newcombe, Tom Seaver, Rick Sutcliffe, Fernando Valenzuela, Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom.

While Skenes could not have won the Cy Young in his rookie season, where he went 11-3 with 1.96 ERA, he could join Gooden to win the Rookie of the Year and then follow it up with a Cy Young season the following year.

If Skenes wins the NL Cy Young in 2025, he'll become the first Pirates pitcher since Doug Drabek in 1990 to win the honor. However, rest easy, he'll face stiff competition from the likes of Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Chris Sale.