Paul Skenes Saw Fastball Velocity Decline During 2026
The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher experienced a measurable dip in speed throughout his second full professional season.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Baseball
Live Poll
Do you believe playing in off-season international tournaments risks a professional athlete's regular season performance?
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes concluded the 2026 season with a 10-11 record and a 3.82 ERA. His average fastball velocity fell to 96.8 mph, down from his 98.8 mph average in 2024.
Why it matters
Skenes attributed his 2026 struggles and performance inconsistencies to the physical toll of pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. This workload, occurring before the MLB regular season, coincided with mechanical issues that hampered his consistency.
Skenes recorded a 6.26 ERA during a stretch from June 26 to August 5, 2026, where he averaged 3.9 walks per nine innings. These figures stand in contrast to his early season performance and his 1.08 ERA during his World Baseball Classic appearance.
The players
Paul Skenes
He is a starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who gained national attention as a top prospect.
Pittsburgh Pirates
This is a professional Major League Baseball franchise based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The details
Mechanical difficulties in his delivery persisted throughout the summer months, leading to a difficult mid-season stretch. Skenes remained a core part of the rotation as the Pirates finished the 2026 campaign with an 82-80 record.
Timeline
March 2026: Paul Skenes pitched in the World Baseball Classic.
June 26 - August 5, 2026: Skenes recorded a 6.26 ERA over eight starts.
September 25, 2026: Skenes made his final start of the season.
2027 season: Skenes enters his first year of arbitration.
Season Trajectory
Skenes' performance shift echoes the historical challenge of maintaining high-velocity output early in a starter's career, similar to Justin Verlander's 2008 drop. This trend complicates the Pirates' long-term rotation strategy as Skenes approaches his first year of arbitration.
Skenes enters the 2027 season under the arbitration window, which will factor into his upcoming contract value and salary projections. His diminished velocity serves as a key variable for fantasy managers and internal team analysis regarding his projected workload for the new year.
The takeaway
Maintaining peak velocity across a full major league season requires consistent mechanical stability and rest. Young pitchers must balance international commitments with the physical demands of a 162-game schedule to sustain performance long-term.
Further reading
For more on the team, visit Pittsburgh Baseball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TigerRag.com - The Bible of LSU Sports.
Live Poll
Do you believe playing in off-season international tournaments risks a professional athlete's regular season performance?
