Photo Credit: Bleacher Report
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Paul Skenes believes the World Baseball Classic played a major role in his 2026 struggles. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace has watched his fastball velocity fall this season. Now, he has offered an explanation for the unusual decline. Skenes recently told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the WBC disrupted his normal spring buildup. He stopped short of blaming the tournament for everything. Still, he believes it played a major part in his problems. “There are a lot of other factors,” Skenes said, according to the Post-Gazette. He added that he felt the WBC was “kind of the root” of the issue.
Skenes Never Found His Normal Ramp-Up
Skenes entered the 2026 season after another dominant year. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 2025. He also finished his rookie season as the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024. However, his preparation looked different this spring. Skenes joined Team USA for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He made two starts during the tournament. He threw 8⅓ innings and allowed only one run. The WBC also forced Skenes to adjust his normal training schedule. Normally, pitchers gradually increase their intensity during spring training. Skenes said that process helps him find his body and build velocity. This year followed a different path. Skenes explained that his live batting practice sessions normally build from 97 mph. He then reaches 98 or 99 mph as spring progresses. That progression never happened the same way this year.
The Velocity Numbers Stand Out
The difference shows up clearly in Skenes’ fastball numbers. He averaged 98.8 mph during his rookie season. That number dipped slightly to 98.2 mph in 2025. This season, however, Skenes has averaged just 96.8 mph. That represents a significant decline for one of baseball’s hardest throwers. Skenes also failed to record a 100-mph pitch during the 2026 season. That marks another unusual development for the 24-year-old right-hander. His elite velocity helped establish him as one of baseball’s biggest young stars. Still, Skenes has continued to pitch effectively at times. He owns a 3.91 ERA across 168 innings this season. He also has 192 strikeouts and a 1.13 WHIP. Those numbers remain strong by normal standards. They also fall short of what baseball fans expected from Skenes after his first two seasons.
A Rough Stretch Changed the Conversation
Skenes experienced some dominant stretches earlier this season. At one point, he produced an eight-start stretch with a 1.09 ERA. He averaged more than six innings per start during that run. However, his performance later became more inconsistent. From May 17 through July 31, Skenes posted a 5.18 ERA across 14 starts. The Pirates went 3-11 during those games. His velocity decline also became increasingly noticeable. Instead of consistently seeing 98 and 99 mph, Skenes produced more pitches around 95 and 96 mph. That difference matters for a pitcher whose fastball can overwhelm hitters at its peak.
Skenes Does Not Blame Everything on the WBC
Importantly, Skenes did not claim the WBC caused every problem. He specifically acknowledged that other factors contributed to his difficult season. That distinction matters because several pitchers participated in the WBC without experiencing similar struggles. Logan Webb, another Team USA pitcher, also endured a difficult season. However, other WBC participants performed extremely well. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Cristopher Sánchez and Eduardo Rodríguez all had strong seasons after participating. Therefore, the WBC alone cannot explain every pitcher’s performance. Skenes simply believes the tournament affected his individual preparation.
Pittsburgh Needs Its Ace Back
The Pirates entered 2026 hoping to take another step toward contention. Instead, Pittsburgh missed the postseason. The team reached 79-77 after beating Kansas City on Sept. 18. That victory still left the Pirates outside the playoff picture. Skenes’ performance represents one important part of that story. The Pirates need their ace to return to his dominant form. Skenes understands that getting his velocity back may require patience. He told the Post-Gazette that he expects the process could take an offseason. He also admitted that he would have liked to throw harder this year. The timing could help.
There will be no World Baseball Classic in 2027. That should allow Skenes to follow a traditional offseason and spring training schedule. For Skenes and the Pirates, that creates an opportunity for a reset. The 2026 season showed that even elite pitchers can struggle when their preparation changes. Now, Skenes will have an entire offseason to rebuild his routine. If his velocity returns, the Pirates could see a very different version of their ace next season.
Paul Skenes has had a terrible season and has reasons why it happen.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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