Paul Skenes did what Bob Nutting never could and made Pirates fans believe again

Paul Skenes was named the winner of the 2025 National League Cy Young Award, announced live on MLB Network by Doug Drabek. Skenes was a unanimous winner, further emphasizing his historic achievement.

Skenes is the third Pirate to win a Cy Young, joining Vern Law (1960) and Drabek (1990). At 23 years and 122 days, he is the fifth-youngest pitcher to ever win the award.

Skenes had a 10-10 record thanks to an offense that provided him with just 11 runs of support in those 10 losses, but the rest of his stat line speaks for itself. His 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 2.36 FIP and 217 ERA+ were all tops in the NL, and his 216 strikeouts were tied with Jesús Luzardo for the second most in the NL behind Logan Webb’s 224. Skenes was also one of just six MLB pitchers qualified for the ERA title who held hitters to a batting average below the Mendoza line (.199).

Having a generational talent like Skenes was the dream that kept every Pirates fan sane through another 71-win season, another empty offseason promise, another “we’ll be more aggressive” quote from Ben Cherington. For so long, it was a fantasy that never quite became real. But by winning the Cy Young Award, Skenes restored pride to a fan base that’s spent decades watching its best players leave and its ownership stand still.

For Pirates fans, Paul Skenes' NL Cy Young Award represents more than a trophy

Skenes didn’t just dominate hitters this season; he carried an entire city’s hope on his shoulders every fifth day. Every time he took the mound, PNC Park felt like October again. The crowd leaned forward. The cameras stayed on him longer. You could feel the difference. And when he struck out his 10th guy of the night and screamed into his glove, you remembered what passion looks like — the kind this team hasn’t inspired in years.

Skenes is everything this franchise hasn’t been: fearless, elite, uncompromising. He didn’t need a $250 million payroll or a flashy free-agent rotation mate. He needed belief, and he created it himself — one triple-digit fastball, one deafening “LET’S GO BUCS” at PNC Park at a time.

Let’s be real: Pirates fans have been burned too many times to count. We’ve seen stars traded, promises broken, and “payroll flexibility” turn into excuses. But Skenes? He’s something they can’t sell off or spin away –– not yet, anyway. He’s too special, too rare, too real. You don’t trade a guy who makes baseball in Pittsburgh matter again.

So, yes, the Cy Young belongs to Skenes. But in a way, it belongs to all of the Pirates fans who stuck around — through rebuilds, through false hope, through all of it. For once, it feels like the Pirates’ future isn’t a dream. It’s happening, right now, with Skenes leading the way.