Paul Skenes is enjoying one of the best starts to an MLB career in the history of the sport. The LSU legend and National Champion won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2024, and followed that up by winning the National League Cy Young Award in 2025. Skenes was so dominant that he won the prestigious award unanimously.
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Furthermore, Skenes has been the National League's starting pitcher in back-to-back All-Star games to begin his career. His selection in 2024 made him just the 5th rookie ever to start the All-Star Game for the National League. He was also the first No. 1 overall pick to make an All-Star team as a rookie.
Still at just 23 years of age, it's not a stretch to say that Skenes is just getting started. Heading into Year 3 in 2026, the flame-throwing right-hander is already earning high praise from MLB Network.
Paul Skenes ranked as MLB's best pitcher by MLB Network
In MLB Network's list of the Top 100 players in the league, Skenes is ranked in the No. 7 spot. While he is the No. 7 overall player on the list, he is the top-ranked pitcher.
That is extremely high praise for a pitcher who has just 55 career starts under his belt. In such a short amount of time, it's clear that Skenes has firmly established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.
One of the best starts to a pitcher's career... ever!@Pirates ace Paul Skenes came in as our No. 7 player on the #Top100RightNow. pic.twitter.com/pE2ZUMckrA
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 23, 2026
Not surpringly, Shohei Ohtani claimed the No. 1 spot for the 3rd time in the last 4 years. Aaron Judge came in at No. 2, followed by Bobby Witt Jr. at No. 3, Cal Raleigh at No. 4, Jose Ramirez at No. 5, and Juan Soto at No. 6. Tarik Skubal, Corbin Carroll, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. round out the Top 10. That is some rather elite company for Skenes.
Through 55 career starts, Skenes owns an other-worldly 1.96 ERA and 0.948 WHIP to go along with 386 strikeouts over 320.2 innings of work.
Over the last 2.5 years, he's gone on one of the most impressive runs the sport has ever seen. In that span, Skenes has become a College World Series National Champion, won the CWS Most Outstanding Player, won the Dick Howser Trophy, been the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, started the MLB All-Star Game twice, won the National League Rookie of the Year, and won the National League Cy Young. Not bad for a guy who had just two Division I offers coming out of high school.
Heading into the 2026 season, Skenes figures to be in the race for the Cy Young once again. He continues to get better and better, and baseball fans are in for a treat every time he takes the mound.