Editor's note: This story was originally published on August 19, 2025. Paul Skence and Tarik Skubal are finalists for the 2025 Cy Young Award, which will be announced on November 12, 2025.
Both MLB players 2025 Cy Young Favorites came from humble beginnings in pitching. Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skens began his meteoric rise to fame at the Air Force Academy, while Detroit Tigers left-handed Pull Skubala came of age at Seattle University. Neither place promises baseball immortality, but both pitchers could flirt with history for the rest of their careers if they stayed healthy.
Skence was the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year and Skubal won the American League Cy Young Award last season — and their paths recently crossed as starting pitchers for the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta. As they have the opportunity to put together more hardware this season, ESPN asked their teammates, team personnel, and Skubal and Skenes themselves what makes the two best pitchers in the sport so special.
“The really advanced stuff and fills out the strike zone; they're coming straight at the guys,” Tigers starter. Casey Mize – said, summing up the feelings of those who watched both aces. “So they often have the lead, applying a lot of pressure. The biggest thing to worry about is that they will get bumped up in the count early, so they need to be good early on. But it feels like when they strike the first blow, the battle is over.”
“He’s the guy you can talk to when he gets going.”
The similarities between the two pitchers start with the atmosphere they create in the stadium when it's their turn to pitch. The clubhouse has a different feel during Skenes or Skubal days because of the way games are played when they are on the mound.
“You just know the other team isn't going to do much,” Tigers infielder Zach McKinstry said when it is Skubal's day. “This defensive game is a little boring.”
Like a smiling teammate Spencer Torkelson added: “You can play behind his back almost blindfolded.”
Pirate outfielder Tommy Pham he has his own way of recognizing when Pittsburgh's ace is being served. It all starts with Fam getting dressed to go to the park.
“He comes out on the field in a suit, so I started trying to keep up with him at Skanes Day,” Pham said. “I'm celebrating Skins Day by wearing a costume with him, so he's not the only one.
“And usually we don’t need to score a lot of runs on this day.”
Despite Skenes's formal attire and unsavory stuff, what stands out to his teammates is that Skenes is still available when his mound day arrives.
“He’s the guy you can talk to when he’s starting out,” Pham said. “I’ve played with guys when they first start, you can’t talk to them and I think that’s bullshit… But he’s not like that.”
According to the Detroit infielder, Skubal also exhibits this trait. Zach McKinstry. Skubal will talk to his teammates just like in any other game.
According to players in both locker rooms, confidence in each pitcher's skill allows for a normal day.
The Tigers also get an extra boost of energy during the pennant race as they play meaningful games down the stretch, with Comerica Park coming alive when their ace takes the mound.
“Every jersey you see is a No. 29 jersey,” McKinstry said. “They love him. And he loves what he does. And we love playing behind him.”
“We play defense, but he makes it look like offense.”
If there's one difference between Skubal and Skenes, it's that Skubal is in attack mode more than anyone in the league. He leads MLB in first-time hits 70% of the time. Overall, he strikes out 55% of the time, which ranks third in baseball.
Being in the zone so often is one of the reasons Skubal ranks third in the majors in innings pitched this season after finishing eighth in that category last season.
“When it comes to later innings, you really feel like he has a chance to go the distance,” Tigers pitcher Will West said. “It's because he's so effective with his serves.”
Skubal has pitched at least seven innings in 10 starts this season, including his signature outing: a 13-strikeout shutout against Cleveland Guardians May 25. It's a performance that still resonates in the Tigers clubhouse three months later, especially after his last pitch was recorded at 103 mph.
“Aggressiveness,” Mize explained. “We play defense, but he makes it look like offense. He attacks everyone. He doesn't care. That game demonstrated that.”
Skenes, on the other hand, ranks 33rd in first-strike percentage (62.1) with a full arsenal that allows him to attack hitters in a variety of ways.
“He’s got a bigger toolbox,” Pirates assistant pitching coach Brent Strome said. “It allows him to have weapons against different types of hitters. He plays to his strengths.”
According to Baseball Savant, Skenes has thrown seven different types of balls this season (compared to Skubal's five), and Skenes ranks seventh in swing percentage. It all adds up to a pitch mix that confuses hitters even when they get the pitch to hit.
“It’s a total ‘here it comes, hit it.’” Pirate Catcher. Joey Bart said. “He's not afraid of anyone.”
“Everything is in the numbers and he leaves nothing to chance.”
Each player, regardless of position, has his own plan for preparing for competition. But Skenes is especially unique in this regard.
One day, between starts, Pham asked to stand in the batter's box while Skeens held a bullpen session.
“The next day I asked who was throwing the pen because I needed to check my contact lenses again,” Pham explained. “And Skens says, 'Hey, I'm throwing a pen.'
Pham looked at him puzzled, knowing that Skenes had thrown the ball the day before.
“He was like, ‘Yeah, I quit every day except the day before the race,’” Pham recalls. “When I found out, I thought, yeah, he’s different. I've never seen anyone do that.”
Strom noted that not all bullpen sessions are structured the same. There is a purpose to preparation.
“His work is very organized,” Strom said. “Very thoughtful. It's all by the numbers, and he leaves nothing to chance. He's very smart. He understands what is needed.”
Barth recalled Skenes's early days at the club after his call-up in May 2024. Chicago Cubs.
“I remember the first meeting before the game last year,” Bart said. “He led the match in his debut match. I said, “Go ahead, take it, man. You understand.” He was prepared for this.”
This kind of intense and focused preparation has drawn attention and admiration from around the league, and is what Skubal called Skenes' most impressive trait.
“It looks like he already has a routine and preparation that he put in place at a young age,” Skubal said. “It took me 26 years to become a good major league baseball player and figure it out. And he does it at 23 years old. That's four years faster than me. Yes, it's really impressive.”
“He just wants to show that there is something memorable about greatness.”
According to others, Skubal has an aura of self-confidence that stands out even among other aces. His teammates called him a “bulldog” with a “killer” mentality: he wouldn't back down, no matter the circumstances.
“He’s coming for you,” Torkelson said. “In important situations, he trusts his best stuff. You know what you’re going to get and it’s still hard to hit.”
That confidence allows Skubal to score on the pitcher's count (0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2) 45.7% of the time, more than any other hurler in the game, according to ESPN Research. And until you show that you can get one of his best offers, he will continue to make it. He has 93 strikeouts per shift, second only to Philadelphia Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez.
It's this way of thinking that sets Skubal and Skanes apart the most.
“He can go after hitters straight,” Skeens said. “He gets them out of the game quickly, so he plays deep in games. He does it better than anyone else in the game. But it all starts by going straight at them. It takes confidence.”
According to Tigers play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti, Skubal has a dominant presence. It doesn't hurt that his size (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) is naturally a bit intimidating when he's on the mound, but he makes his presence felt whenever he's in the game.
“The day the All-Star Game was announced last year, the Tigers were in Cincinnati and he struck out [Elly] De La Cruz and there was this loud primal scream – and that's an indelible memory for me,” Benetti said of Skubal. “Because he's the guy that people hear about and there's a buzz about, and he wants it.
“He finishes his pitches and exits at 102 mph because he just wants to show that there's something memorable about greatness, that's how I would put it. He has greatness.”
