Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is the first former LSU pitcher to win a Cy Young Award, winning it for the National League. Skenes led Major League Baseball with a 1.97 ERA and had 216 strikeouts. Skenes, who was recruited as a catcher coming out of high school, told the MLB Network he never thought he would become a dominant pitcher in the big leagues.
“I never thought that I would be in the Major Leagues, much less winning a Cy Young. But if you stay the course, you surround yourself with good people, you work hard, that’s the minimum. You’re gonna do exactly what you’re supposed to do, whatever that looks like,” Skenes said.
Skenes is in his second season in the Major Leagues. Last year, he was a Cy Young Award finalist and was named National League Rookie of the Year. Despite Skenes’ domination on the mound, the Pirates finished in last place in the National League. But Skenes says him winning the Cy Young was a team effort.
“It’s pitchers making each other better. Our catcher-pitcher relationship, coaches, the organization putting you in good spots to succeed. I couldn’t have done it by myself,” Skenes said.
At LSU, Skenes helped the Tigers win a national championship in 2023 and was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. LSU Coach Jay Johnson is thrilled to see Skenes having success in the Majors.
“He’s such a good representative of himself, of his family, of LSU, of LSU baseball that you want nothing but the very best for him. And it’s so great that he’s so awesome,” Johnson said.
