“FORMER LSU PHENOM ON THE RISE: Paul Skenes Sees Surging Odds in Updated National League Cy Young Award Race as Rookie Sensation Dominates MLB”
Paul Skenes was once the pride of Alex Box Stadium, dazzling crowds in Baton Rouge with a fastball that touched triple digits and a presence on the mound that felt beyond his years. Now, just a short time removed from his dominant college campaign with LSU, the hard-throwing right-hander has made an extraordinary leap from NCAA stardom to Major League Baseball sensation, and the baseball world is taking serious notice. What was once considered a promising future has turned into a present-day storm, with oddsmakers rapidly recalibrating Paul Skenes’ chances of capturing the National League Cy Young Award. The rookie is now firmly entrenched in the thick of the race, and the conversation has shifted from if he could contend to how soon he might etch his name into MLB history.
Skenes’ meteoric rise through the Pittsburgh Pirates system defied traditional timelines. From the moment he was selected No. 1 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, the buzz surrounding his potential was deafening. But what has unfolded in the 2025 MLB season is more than just potential—it is dominance at the highest level of baseball. Skenes hasn’t merely earned a spot in the Pirates rotation; he’s taken command of it, becoming the team’s ace and perhaps the most electric rookie pitcher in all of baseball. With each start, he’s making an increasingly persuasive case that this isn’t just a breakout year—it could be an award-winning one.
His statistical portfolio speaks volumes. Skenes has racked up wins while limiting damage with pinpoint command and overwhelming velocity. He leads National League rookies in strikeouts and innings pitched, but even more impressive are the categories where he competes—and often outpaces—veteran Cy Young contenders. ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts per nine innings are all areas where Skenes has consistently been among the best in baseball. He’s quieted some of the game’s most potent lineups, whether by freezing hitters with backdoor sliders or blowing high heat past them at 101 mph. His mound presence combines fearlessness and precision, a rare blend for any pitcher, let alone a rookie.
Naturally, as Skenes’ performances continued to awe fans and analysts alike, the oddsmakers began to take note. Entering the season, he was viewed as a longshot for the Cy Young—a talented rookie expected to endure growing pains typical of young arms. But that narrative changed rapidly. By midseason, with a string of dominant starts under his belt, sportsbooks slashed his odds. What was once a 60-to-1 ticket transformed into a single-digit proposition. Now, Skenes is no longer a sleeper—he’s a legitimate contender, trailing only a few perennial All-Stars in the updated Cy Young futures.
This shift is almost unprecedented. The Cy Young Award is historically unkind to rookies, with only a few—such as Fernando Valenzuela and Dontrelle Willis—ever managing to stir up serious attention during their first campaigns. But Skenes is defying norms and reminding fans why LSU’s run to the College World Series in 2023 was driven by his brilliance. His blend of raw stuff and mental toughness seems to translate effortlessly to the majors, a trait usually acquired through years of experience. Managers around the league have begun game-planning specifically for him, and veteran hitters often walk back to the dugout shaking their heads in disbelief.
Another layer to this story is how his emergence has energized a Pirates franchise in need of a face. While Pittsburgh has seen its share of stars pass through—Andrew McCutchen, Gerrit Cole, and others—Skenes feels different. He’s young, charismatic, and unflinchingly focused. His postgame interviews carry a maturity and professionalism that endear him to fans and teammates. His jersey sales have skyrocketed, and home game attendance spikes every time his name is announced as the starter. For the Pirates, he’s not just a pitcher—he’s a cornerstone. And for Major League Baseball, he’s a marketing dream: a flame-throwing, clean-cut, Southern-born ace with a collegiate pedigree and elite production.
Of course, awards aren’t won in July or August. The Cy Young is about sustaining excellence across an entire season, and the road ahead remains challenging. Opposing teams will adjust, scouting reports will evolve, and Skenes will need to continue adapting. Fatigue could play a role, too—after all, the MLB season is twice as long as any he experienced at LSU. But if his early outings are any indication, he possesses both the physical tools and the mental resilience to weather the long grind.
Analysts have pointed to his efficiency as a major asset. Unlike many young flamethrowers who struggle with pitch counts and control, Skenes has demonstrated the ability to work deep into games without excessive stress on his arm. His strike-to-ball ratio is among the best in the league, and he seldom walks batters. This kind of command is what separates prospects from award-winners. It’s not just about how hard you throw—it’s about knowing when to take a little off, when to attack, and how to manage the tempo of the game. Skenes seems to innately understand all of this, a testament to both his high baseball IQ and the elite coaching he received at LSU.
It’s also worth noting how the locker room has responded. Pirates veterans have spoken glowingly about Skenes’ work ethic, noting that despite the hype, he’s kept his head down and stayed focused. He shows up early, studies hitters meticulously, and constantly seeks feedback from coaches and teammates. This humility, combined with his sheer talent, has made him an instant leader—even among players nearly a decade his senior. There’s a certain gravity to Skenes that’s hard to quantify. He walks onto the field like he belongs, and more often than not, he proves it with his pitching.
As the calendar inches closer to the postseason, every start becomes more consequential. Every inning, every strikeout, every earned run allowed will be dissected and debated by voters and fans alike. And while the Cy Young field is stacked—names like Zac Gallen, Spencer Strider, and Logan Webb aren’t going anywhere—Paul Skenes has something few others do: momentum. He’s not only riding the wave of recent performances; he’s controlling it, steering it toward something historic. Should he maintain his current pace, the award might not just be a possibility—it might be inevitable.
Even if he falls short this year, the message has already been sent: Paul Skenes is here to stay, and the rest of the National League had better adjust accordingly. For LSU fans, this is vindication of their long-held belief that he was more than a college star. For Pirates fans, it’s a glimpse of a brighter future led by a generational talent. And for baseball purists, it’s a reminder of what makes the sport so thrilling—a young arm, a blur of fastballs, and the kind of upside that doesn’t come around often.
Whether he captures the Cy Young or not, Skenes has already altered the landscape of the National League. He’s made believers out of skeptics and turned longshots into favorites. The updated odds are simply a reflection of what everyone’s now seeing: Paul Skenes is not only one of the best rookies in baseball—he might already be one of the best pitchers, period. The race is on, the stakes are high, and the flame-throwing phenom from LSU is leading the charge with every electrifying pitch.