Within the following Q&A, he shares his ideas about his first season within the massive leagues and the notoriety that he receives whereas looking forward to the 2025 season.
Having had time to mirror on the distinction, what does it imply to you to be voted Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr?
Skenes: It’s cool to have that have and the {hardware} that comes with it. Masyn Winn of the Cardinals was top-of-the-line defensive shortstops within the league and he’s a tricky out — and he wasn’t even a finalist. That’s how good the rookie class was. The sport is so younger, and I’m very new to it. I’m a part of that younger group, and I have to proceed to work towards getting an edge.
What about being a finalist for the Nationwide League Cy Younger Award together with Chris Sale of the Braves and Zack Wheeler of the Phillies, who each have way more Main League expertise than you?
Skenes: In truth, I feel being a finalist for the Cy Younger Award is a bit more significant than Rookie of the Yr — as a result of it’s all of the pitchers within the league. It’s an incredible honor to be up there with Sale and Wheeler. Clearly, they compete at a really excessive degree and get a ton of strikeouts. However I feel the largest factor is their consistency each single outing. That’s one thing I try for, and one thing they’re superb at.
How can you keep level-headed with all of the belongings you’ve completed and all of the honors you’ve acquired? It usually looks like you’re the individual least impressed by all of that.
Skenes: That’s how I’ve all the time been. Every little thing stems from the sport and circles again to enjoying the sport. That’s the one factor that issues. As a result of if you happen to don’t execute and also you don’t compete, then all that different stuff goes away. I admire them, however the awards aren’t why I play the sport.
How has your offseason been up to now? Are you doing a very good job of enjoyable and doing belongings you’re unable to do in the course of the baseball season, but in addition making ready for 2025?
Skenes: I took three weeks off in the beginning of the offseason. Took a mini trip to Florida for a couple of days. It’s simply robust as a result of my girlfriend [LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne] is at school and I’m attempting to spend as a lot time together with her as attainable. A two-week journey to Italy or one thing like that? That’s not occurring this offseason. Folks say, ‘Hey, do you need to do one thing?’ And I’m like, ‘We will do one thing, however we’ve acquired about 12 hours as a result of I have to get again and carry within the morning.’ The most important factor is getting my coaching in.
As a champion gymnast and somebody with a large following on social media, your girlfriend Livvy Dunne is definitely a star in her personal enviornment. Do the 2 of you assist one another navigate all the eye you obtain?
Skenes: Yeah, I feel so. She acquired to that time in her life slightly bit sooner than I did. So, with the Draft and all of that, she was capable of assist me with these experiences. And I feel I’m capable of assist her. We’re positively capable of share a few of these experiences and assist one another out.
The Pirates had been within the race for a playoff berth final season till experiencing a tough month of August. Do you and your teammates imagine you’ll be able to collectively obtain higher ends in 2025 and make a severe run at postseason play?
Skenes: Yeah, the final couple months of the season — particularly that stretch in August — left a foul style in lots of people’s mouths. We had been in it up till then after which had a bunch of issues not go our means. My hope is, we acquired that out of our system and we’re going to have extra self-awareness by way of how we’re going to have the ability to win transferring ahead. I do know the expertise right here goes to get higher. We simply have to have an id and a few good camaraderie. From there, I’m not going to say no person goes to cease us, however I like our probabilities as a result of there are easy and easy methods for us to win much more video games with none large, sweeping modifications. I do know I can’t watch for Spring Coaching to begin.
Are you able to speak about the way you’ve been embraced by the Pirates since they chose you No. 1 general within the 2023 Draft?
Skenes: Clearly, being drafted No. 1 general was an enormous honor, and since then I’ve had a good quantity of visibility and conversations with [chairman] Bob Nutting, [general manager] Ben Cherington and different workforce officers. They usually pay attention. I used to be the No. 1 decide, who cares? No matter. I used to be nonetheless a rookie final yr, however they had been listening. They usually’re listening to guys like Mitch Keller, Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes too. They’re receptive. They take heed to what we predict we have to do to win. Mr. Nutting could be very approachable. He’s prepared to pay attention as a result of he desires to win, which is sweet as a result of that’s not the image that lots of people paint of him. The one distinction is we’re going to win in slightly bit totally different means than the Dodgers and the Yankees. However we’re going to win.
How do Pirates followers react whether or not they see you on the ballpark, at scheduled appearances and even on the grocery retailer or fuel station?
Skenes: It’s tremendous humbling the best way I’ve been accepted and embraced by Pirates followers, and I like to think about it as by town of Pittsburgh as effectively. It’s actually cool to see them present up on the ballpark and root for us. It’s one of many explanation why we play the sport — to see the followers within the stands. It’s simply an superior expertise.
