Paul Skenes: podcast appearances and interviews

Paul David Skenes, born on May 29, 2002, is an American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball. He made his MLB debut in 2024 after being selected first overall in the 2023 MLB draft. Skenes played college baseball for the Air Force Falcons and the LSU Tigers. He initially attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he received the John Olerud Award in 2022, which is awarded annually to the best two-way player in college baseball. Prior to his junior season, Skenes transferred to LSU, earning honors as Southeastern Conference and national pitcher of the year, as well as the Dick Howser Trophy. During his time at LSU, he was part of the team that won the 2023 Men's College World Series and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Skenes entered the 2023 MLB draft as one of the most anticipated prospects, with some considering him the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg. After signing with the Pirates for a $9.2 million bonus, he progressed through the team's farm system within a season, leading to his MLB debut in May 2024. That year, he was named the starting pitcher for the National League in the MLB All-Star Game, marking only the fifth rookie in MLB history to achieve this distinction. Skenes was also selected for subsequent All-Star Games in 2025 and 2026. He received the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2024 and the Cy Young Award in 2025, becoming the first player to win both in consecutive seasons since Dwight Gooden in the mid-1980s.