1 Paul Skenes pitch overlay shows how impossible it is to hit him

In just 11 Major League starts for Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes, he’s proven why he’s the National League starter on the mound for the 2024 All-Star Game. Maybe he’s a possible Cy Young winner this year? We’ll see.

He’s compiled a 1.90 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts in just 66.1 innings. I mean, that’s the whole story right there. But why is he so darn unhittable?

Thanks to Rob Friedman AKA @PitchingNinja, we have an answer: if you’re a hitter, you’re trying to get your bat on triple-digit fastballs. But then a pitch comes at you that LOOKS like the fastball on the outside … and then it dips into the zone because it’s not a fastball. It’s a slider.

Ouch.

Paul Skenes, 99mph Fastball (noncompetitive pitch/ ball) and 85mph Back Door Slider (backwards K), Individual Pitches + Overlay.

Why you'd give up on Paul Skenes's back door slider. pic.twitter.com/jrfIZGf80a

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 12, 2024

Paul Skenes' 11 games played are the fewest of all-time by an MLB All-Star, per @SlangsOnSports pic.twitter.com/c8ahdev7w5

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 12, 2024