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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Paul Skenes’ 2025 season was the coronation of a generational talent. In just his first full major league campaign, Skenes became the first pitcher since Dwight Gooden to win the National League Cy Young Award unanimously the year after being named Rookie of the Year. He finished the year with a 1.97 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 216 strikeouts over 187.2 innings. While his 10-10 record made him the first Cy Young winner in history to finish at or below .500, his league-leading 7.7 fWAR underscored a level of individual dominance rarely seen from a 23-year-old. His "splinker" (splitter-sinker) and triple-digit fastball became the most feared pairing in baseball, holding right-handed hitters to a meager .196 average.

Entering 2026, Skenes is the undisputed face of the Pirates and the primary reason the team is being projected as a legitimate playoff contender. He arrived at spring training in Bradenton looking even more physically imposing, reportedly hitting 101 mph in his first live BP session. To capitalize on his brilliance, the Pirates' front office aggressively rebuilt the roster this winter, adding veteran bats like Marcell Ozuna and Brandon Lowe to provide the run support that was famously absent in 2025. Before the regular season starts, Skenes is slated to anchor the Team USA rotation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, further cementing his status as the premier arm in the sport.

For fantasy managers, Skenes is the consensus No. 1 overall pitcher with an ADP around 10.x