Paul Skenes: Stats, Strikeouts | First Pitch Velocity | Pitch Count

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates’ young ace, has generated buzz in MLB for his overpowering arsenal, exceptional strikeout rate, blistering fastballs, and efficient pitch usage. In this article we break down his latest stats: strikeouts, first‐pitch velocities, and how his pitch counts are being managed. Whether you’re a fan, fantasy player, or analyst, you’ll find a deep dive into the metrics that define Skenes’ performance in 2024-2025.

Who is Paul Skenes?

• Name: Paul David Skenes

• DOB: May 29, 2002

• Team: Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB)

• Debuted: May 11, 2024

He was the first overall pick in the 2023 draft and made a quick, high-impact transition to the majors with dominant stuff, including four-seam fastballs that routinely sit at or near 100 mph, and an array of secondary pitches to complement them.

Strikeouts

One of the most striking features of Skenes’ game is how often he racks up Ks. Let’s look at the numbers.

Career (so far): Combined across 2024-2025, he has approximately 386 strikeouts over 314.2 innings.

These figures place him among the elite in terms of K rate for starting pitchers in MLB today. His K% (percentage of batters he strikes out) is also high, well above league average. Paul Skenes stats.

First Pitch Velocity

How fast does Skenes throw on the first pitch of his starts? This is a useful metric because it signals his fastball readiness and how his velocity opens up the secondary stuff.

• According to multiple sources, Skenes’ fastballs average around 98.8-99.1 mph during the 2024-2025 stretch.

• In his MLB debut (2024), he reached as high as 101.9 mph, and his average fastball was about 100 mph in that outing.

• The average first‐pitch velocity for regular season starts is also high. One source reports 99.1 mph as his average fastball velocity over many starts.

So, typically his first pitch in starts is thrown in that high-90s range, often close to 100 mph, which immediately establishes the threat.

Pitch Count & Workload

For many young pitchers, workload is carefully managed. Skenes is no exception. Here’s what the data shows:

• His average pitch count per appearance is about 91 pitches overall.

• In his more recent outings (last 10 games), that average creeps up: about 93 pitches per game.

• In his last 5 games recorded, average pitch count is about 89.

These numbers show that while he often exceeds what a lot of young pitchers do early in their careers, his starts are being monitored (in terms of pitch count and innings) to keep him effective and reduce risk of overuse.

Also relevant: In one game (no-hit bid vs. Brewers, 2024), he was removed after 7 nearly perfect innings and had thrown 99 pitches. The decision was reportedly due to fatigue rather than a strict pitch count rule.

Additional Metrics That Complement These Figures

• ERA: Extremely low, especially for a rookie: around 1.96 in 2024 across 133 innings. In 2025 through recent games, ERA remains outstanding (sub-2.10 in many stretches).

• WHIP: Around 0.95 in 2025, showing that he limits baserunners.

• Fastball usage and velocity grade: Fastball often averages high (≈98-99 mph), four-seamer especially. Secondary pitches vary, but all support his strikeout ability.

Trends & Implications

• Sustainability: As his pitch counts are rising in recent games, managing fatigue and maintaining command will be key. Overuse or increasing pitch counts could lead to dips, particularly with velocity or effectiveness of secondary pitches.

• Velocity retention: Starting strong with first‐pitch fastballs near 100 mph is great, but how well he maintains velocity into the middle and late innings may be a telling metric going forward.

• Strikeout vs efficiency balance: High strikeout rates often come at the cost of more pitches per batter, more stretch counts. Skenes seems to be efficient enough overall but pushing into higher pitch totals in some starts.

Summary

Paul Skenes is distinguishing himself with:

• Very high strikeout rates: 10-11 K/9 in both 2024 and 2025.

• First pitches (and fastballs, especially) blazing in the high-90s, often near 100 mph.

• Pitch count being managed but still high for a young starter; averaging around 90-93 pitches per start in recent games.

He’s shown he can dominate batters from pitch one and sustain it deep into his starts, but his continued success depends on health, consistency, and how the Pirates handle his workload.

FAQs

Q1: What is Paul Skenes’ career total strikeouts?
A: As of late September 2025, Paul Skenes has approximately 386 strikeouts across his MLB career (2024-2025).

Q2: What is his average first-pitch fastball velocity?
A: His first pitch velocity tends to be in the high-90s mph, often close to 99-100 mph for his fastball. His overall average fastball velocity in 2024 was ~98.8 mph, and by 2025 similar high velocity has been maintained.

Q3: How many pitches does Skenes throw on average per start?
A: Typically between 89 and 93 pitches per start in recent games; the all-games average is around 91.

Q4: Has he ever thrown over 100 pitches?
A: Yes. In some starts he has exceeded 100 pitches. For example, during a no-hit bid in 2024 he pitched 7 innings with 99 pitches before being removed. Paul Skenes stats.

Q5: How do these figures compare to league averages?
A: His strikeout rate (K%) is well above league average, and his fastball is significantly harder than average fastballs. League average four‐seam or fastball velocities are typically lower (~94-95 mph). His pitch counts are high but not unusual for a workhorse starter.