Paul Skenes, A Superstar In The Making

LSU pitcher Paul Skenes has cemented elite status in Baton Rouge, but how did it come together?

When Paul Skenes arrived in Baton Rouge, he never expected he’d leave a huge legacy at LSU. It was a transition that took time throughout the offseason, but one that helped shape him into the ace pitcher he is today.

Skenes has seen his game evolve since transferring in from Air Force. A dual-threat star both at the plate and on the mound, the hype surrounding Skenes was monstrous, but Head Coach Jay Johnson had a plan to make him great.

That plan was to lock in on where Skenes will make his money in the MLB: as a pitcher. With the help of pitching coach Wes Johnson, his game has reached new heights, but he’s nowhere near his potential he says.

There are parts of Skenes that people don’t see. There’s a goofy college kid standing in his monster frame of 6-foot-6, 247-pounds. The superstar player is an even better leader for this program.

What People Don’t See

Every Friday that Skenes arrives at the stadium to pitch, he’s wearing a shirt with one of his teammate’s faces on it. It’s a tradition that this team has bonded over and one that Skenes will continue doing on a routine basis as the postseason arrives.

“There's been a good variety of people this year, a lot of guys that play, a lot of guys that don’t play,” Skenes said. “Everyone has a place in our culture so it’s cool. I call it ‘filling everybody’s buckets.’ They come in and they don’t know they’re gonna be on the shirt and it’s cool to see their reactions and make their day a little bit better.”

Solely Pitching

The transition to become a one-dimensional player and stick to advancing his game on the mound has helped his game in a variety of ways from a recovery standpoint to time management.

Skenes, who played catcher and also batted at Air Force, knew what he was getting himself into once arriving in Baton Rouge.

“A lot of it comes with the recovery piece. Not having to worry about catching the Sunday game. Dedicating more time to pitching is gonna help and learning the game has been really good,” Skenes said. “There’s always another level you can get to, mental or physical, there’s always something you can get better at.”

The Development

Where has Skenes seen his game advance? Execution. He’s had the strength. He’s had the power. But putting it all together to become a complete pitcher is where he’s seen advancements in his game from a development perspective.

“A little bit but I think it all comes down to execution of each pitch. I think the thing I’ve gotten better at is not trying to do too much with an 0-2 slider or fastball. Just trusting that if I execute the pitch, it’s going to get the guy out,” Skenes said. “The Sunday game having fresh bullpen arms is a really big thing. Being able to use guys once a weekend instead of twice I think is a really good thing.”

What does his coach think of the evolution of his game? After sheer dominance against Mississippi State, Coach Johnson had some high praise for Skenes.

“It wouldn’t have mattered who was in the box, a college baseball team or the Yankees. It would’ve been the same result,” Jay Johnson said. “I think he’s executing at a high level and he can be a victim of his own ability. You’re gonna get to two strikes on every hitter and he’s tough to plan against and approach no matter what anybody does. It’s the same result.”

Leaving a Legacy

Skenes has entered rare territory. Now nearing the all-time strikeout record for LSU, in significantly less innings pitched, his production is eye-opening. With postseason play on the horizon, the sky’s the limit for Skenes who has solidified himself as one of the greatest Tigers to step foot on the mound in Alex Box Stadium.

“It’s been awesome, it’s such a blessing to be here and experience it. It’s been so cool to have so many people come out and watch my journey,” Skenes said. “I came here to put myself in a better position and win games. But I never expected to leave a huge legacy at LSU. I think that would be cool to do, to be here for one year and have people know who I am.”