As Pirates fans get ready for the 2025 season, they'll be expecting another standout campaign from reigning ROY Paul Skenes.

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 of 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.

That's because Skenes is looking to add a cutter and two-seam fastball to a nasty repertoire that already includes his signature "splinker" (splitter-sinker hybrid) pitch and traditional four-seam fastball that tops out at over 100 mph.

Pitcher Paul Skenes had an outstanding first season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning National League Rookie of the Year honors with a 1.96 ERA, 170 strikeouts in 133 innings, and an 11-3 record in 23 starts.