Paul Skenes is already trying to take his game to the next level. Fresh off one of the best rookie campaigns from a pitcher in recent baseball history, the Pirates ace is adding two new weapons this spring a cutter and a two-seam fastball. Before this spring, Skenes already featured six pitches, including a 100-plus mph fastball, a splinker, and a sweeper. Apparently, that wasnt enough for the flame-throwing phenom. Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a Grapefruit League spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Sarasota, Florida. Getty Images Really, [Im] just trying to create more swing decisions, last month. Thats what it boils down to. After Liover Peguero Jersey a three-inning start on Thursday, Skenes about his new cutter. Explore More I didnt have anything like that before, and it was kind of like, Well, I throw 100. Why dont I throw a 90 mph slider, basically? Skenes said. Why dont I throw a breaking ball thats around 90? Because I can. My sweeper was around 85 last year, and so thats part of it, but the sweeper is so big that if I dont get any swings on the cutter, its still going to get me swings on the sweeper. Paul Skenes pitches against the American League in the first inning during the 2024 MLB All-Star game at Globe Life Field. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Skenes dominated during his first year in the big leagues, posting a 1.96 ERA acro s 23 starts with 170 strikeouts in just 133 innings en route to the . In July, , becoming the fourth rookie in MLB history to start the Midsummer Cla sic. Skenes debuted with the Pirates barely a year after being drafted No. 1 overall out of LSU during the 2023 MLB Draft, living up to the ma sive hype that followed him throughout his college and minor league career. Yoshi Tsutsugo Jersey