Pirates' Skenes showcases expanded arsenal in 1st Grapefruit League appearance of year

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes got a chance to showcase his expanded repertoire to opposing hitters while pitching in a Grapefruit League game for the first time this year
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Nation & World
March 1, 2025
X

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes got a chance to showcase his expanded repertoire to opposing hitters Saturday while pitching in a Grapefruit League game for the first time this year.

Skenes has been working on adding a cutter and a running two-seam fastball to complement his electrifying four-seam fastball. The 22-year-old struck out four and allowed four hits, one walk and one run in three innings Saturday in the Pirates' 5-2 victor over the Baltimore Orioles.

“You’ve just got to mix it in,” Skenes told SportsNet Pittsburgh and other media after the game. “I learned some stuff about it. It’s going to be good, I think.”

Skenes is following up a sensational 2024 season in which he earned NL Rookie of the Year honors and went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings. The Pirates selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft after he led LSU to that year's College World Series championship.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) returns to the dugout after the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Credit: AP

icon to expand image

Credit: AP

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Credit: AP

icon to expand image

Credit: AP

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart (14) talks with starting pitcher Paul Skenes, right, during a mound visit in the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Credit: AP

icon to expand image

Credit: AP

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Credit: AP

icon to expand image

Credit: AP

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes warms up as fans watch behind a fence before a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Credit: AP

icon to expand image

Credit: AP

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) is seen warming up between fans gathered to watch before a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Credit: AP

icon to expand image

Credit: AP

In Other News
1
Francis off mechanical ventilation entirely, signaling he's overcome...
2
Stephen Curry says he's retiring from the slam dunk after throwing down...
3
The Latest: The red carpet is open ahead of the 97th Academy Awards
4
Crews battle wildfires in North and South Carolina amid dry conditions...
5
Ariana Grande goes full Glinda, 'Wicked' bestie Erivo does Elphaba...