For decades, the Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled to reclaim their place among baseball’s elite.
A brief resurgence in the early 2010s saw them reach the postseason, but they never advanced beyond the Division Series. Their most celebrated moment in recent years remains the electrifying Wild Card victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
However, with ace pitcher and reigning Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes spearheading a promising young core, Pittsburgh’s fortunes may finally be shifting.
Skenes is on a mission to turn the franchise around.
In a recent interview with Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, the 22-year-old ace laid out his vision for the 2025 season, emphasizing his desire to reward a loyal fanbase that has endured years of mediocrity.
“I think we owe something to the city. We owe a lot to the city. It’s our job to go out and win for the city because this is bigger than all of us,” Skenes said.
For Skenes, the goal isn’t just to win – it’s to restore the Pirates’ once-proud tradition of success.
Pittsburgh, a franchise with five World Series titles, hasn’t reached the Championship Series since 1993. The young pitcher sees himself as part of a larger effort to bring winning baseball back to the city.
“We’ve got a legacy here. Got to keep it going. They left the jersey in a better spot than they found it. That’s what I’m trying to do, and what we’re all trying to do,” Skenes added.
With Skenes under team control for at least the next five seasons, the Pirates have an opportunity to build a competitive roster around one of baseball’s most gifted young arms.
Pirates fans have remained fiercely loyal despite frustrations with the organization’s direction. That unwavering support isn’t lost on Skenes, who believes Pittsburgh deserves a team that can compete at the highest level.
“There’s a reason why [Andrew McCutchen] keeps coming back, and specifically to Pittsburgh. There’s something about this city. We saw it last summer. We’ve seen it in the videos of the Wild Card Game,” Skenes continued.
“I’m tired of watching them because it was a Wild Card Series. The bar needs to be set pretty high. Not taking anything from those guys. The fact that that’s a golden era of recent Pirates baseball, that needs to change. We owe it to the city.”
Skenes made it clear that while the Wild Card win was a special moment, it shouldn’t be the high point of recent Pirates history.
As the 2025 season gets underway, Skenes and the Pirates are setting their sights higher than ever. If their young talent can deliver, Pittsburgh might finally see its long-awaited baseball renaissance.
With a 1-5 start to the season, things aren’t exactly going according to plan for Skenes and the Pirates. However, there is still a whole lot of baseball left to be played (to say the least).
Fair or not, many fans from big market teams such as the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs, and Dodgers think it’s a foregone conclusion that Skenes ends up leaving Pittsburgh one day.
However, unless he’s a great liar, his comments about winning the World Series in Pittsburgh and restoring Pirates pride are quite eye-opening.
What are your thoughts on Skenes and his future? … I don’t mean to look too far down the road, but will the Pirates be able (and willing) to keep him when it comes time for a new contract???
