A kid who once dreamed of flying fighter jets is now the most dominant pitcher in Major League Baseball, just two years after making his professional debut. At only 23, Pittsburgh Pirates flame-thrower Paul Skenes capped off a historic season by becoming a unanimous National League Cy Young Award winner, the first in 40 years to do so at such an early stage of his career.
A Unanimous Cy Young in Just His Second Year
After winning Rookie of the Year last season, Skenes followed it up with the most prestigious pitching award in baseball. Only three pitchers in MLB history have ever won both Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young within their first two seasons: Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Dwight Gooden (1985), and now Paul Skenes (2024).
Winning back-to-back awards like that is nearly impossible—it requires talent, consistency, and dominance from day one. Yet Skenes left no doubt this season, sweeping all 30 first-place votes in a landslide decision.
A True Ace on a Struggling Team
His numbers become even more mind-blowing when you consider the team behind him. Pitching for the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates, where run support was scarce, Skenes finished the year with:
- 32 starts
- 187.2 innings pitched
- 10–10 record
- 1.97 ERA
- 216 strikeouts
The lack of wins doesn’t do him justice—his ERA under 2.00 in today’s game is a badge reserved only for the absolute elite. Despite minimal help from the offense, Skenes dominated every lineup he faced. That’s what a real ace looks like.
From Fighter Pilot Dreams to Cy Young Reality
Skenes’ journey is as unusual as it is inspiring. Growing up in California, he dreamed of two things: baseball and flying fighter jets. He actually entered the Air Force Academy as a catcher, playing multiple positions before making a life-changing decision in 2022—switching to pitching full-time and transferring to LSU.
The rest is history.
He became the ace who led LSU to the College World Series title in 2023 and was selected first overall in the MLB Draft that same year. His 102-mph fastball and vicious sinker quickly made him one of the most feared arms in baseball.
In his rookie season, he went 11–3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts—announcing the arrival of a new superstar. Even Skenes admitted after receiving the Cy Young trophy:
“I never imagined a catcher entering college would one day win the Cy Young.”
AL Dominance: Tarik Skubal Goes Back-to-Back
While Skenes conquered the National League, the American League crown belonged once again to Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. The left-handed ace repeated as AL Cy Young winner after posting:
- 195.1 innings
- 13–6 record
- 2.21 ERA
- 241 strikeouts
Back-to-back Cy Youngs are reserved for the truly exceptional—and Skubal firmly stamped his name among the league’s best.
A Story That Proves Effort Can Rewrite Destiny
Paul Skenes’ meteoric rise reminds us that it’s never too late to change paths, take risks, or chase dreams. Going from Air Force Academy catcher to MLB’s most dominant pitcher in just a few years is nothing short of extraordinary.
And the best part? His story is only beginning.
Baseball fans everywhere will be watching closely to see what new records the young phenom will break next season