The World Baseball Classic, held from March 3 to March 17, had a lasting influence throughout the baseball season. Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes noted its impact on his performance, which deviated from his usual standards. This year, his typical velocity and command have been off, resulting in a 3.91 ERA compared to previous seasons’ averages of 1.97 and 1.96.

Skenes explained that the timing of the Classic contributed to these issues. He pointed out that pitchers generally don’t exert full effort at that time of year. “Usually, that time of year, you’re kind of ramping up and it’s a little bit slow. You can kind of get onto the slope and find your body,” Skenes stated. “One live (batting practice), you’re topping at 97 mph, and then the next you’re 98, 99. And that wasn’t the case this year.”

Despite the slower pace in the early season, Skenes managed to perform well without his usual fastball velocity. The decrease is notable; from 98.8 mph as a rookie in 2024 to 98.1 mph last year, and now 96.8 mph. Attempts to rectify this via mechanical adjustments have been unsuccessful. “It’s probably going to take an offseason to get it back,” he admitted.

Skenes also emphasized that not all his struggles were due to the World Baseball Classic, yet he believed it was a contributing factor. He mentioned that other pitchers might have felt its effects too. “It definitely affected the year,” he remarked. “Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m the only one.”

The Pirates are hopeful that Skenes will recover fully and return to peak form in 2027, potentially aiding the team in a postseason bid, contingent on the resolution of the looming lockout.