Baseball Pitchers Skenes and Skubal Talk About Throwing Harder and Smarter in 2026

Top pitchers like Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal are talking about how baseball pitching is changing. They say pitchers need to throw very fast, over 108 miles per hour, but also use smart moves to win.
By Newsroom | Sports, Baseball |

Velocity's Reign and the Nuances of Deception

Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, widely regarded as the foremost talents on the pitching mound today, have offered a stark look into the contemporary craft of baseball. Their recent discussions, published yesterday and six hours ago respectively, highlight a persistent emphasis on sheer speed, yet underscore that raw velocity alone is insufficient. The core of elite pitching, as articulated by these two, lies in the strategic execution of each individual pitch to neutralize a hitter.

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Skubal, for instance, detailed his development of a changeup, a pitch now seen as his counter to Skenes' formidable sweeper. This suggests a continuous, almost dialectical, process where pitchers adapt and refine their arsenals not just to out-throw, but to out-think their opposition. The question isn't merely who can throw the hardest – though pitches exceeding 108 miles per hour are now on the horizon – but who can deploy their arsenal with maximum effect.

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The Art Beyond Raw Power

Beyond the radar gun readings, the insights from Skenes and Skubal point to a deeper, more nuanced understanding of pitching. They emphasize the ability to manipulate the baseball, asserting that "you can do whatever you want with a baseball." This echoes sentiments from broader discussions on the art of pitching, where effective sequencing and pitch selection are repeatedly cited as crucial elements.

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While discussions around technological advancements, including the potential future role of AI, have surfaced, the immediate focus for these top-tier athletes remains on the tangible aspects of their craft. Their pronouncements implicitly reject a purely mechanical or data-driven approach, instead championing a blend of physical prowess and mental acuity.

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A Shifting Paradigm

The context for these conversations is a league grappling with its pitching identity. Recent analyses, like the one published on March 19th, 2026, by The Athletic, reveal a stratification among pitchers, separating those deemed "just a guy" from true game-changers. This distinction often hinges on consistency, injury resilience, and the ability to maintain high performance metrics, such as reduced walks and increased strikeouts, a pattern exemplified by some of the league's past Cy Young winners.

Read More: Baseball pitchers focus on accuracy over speed, say Skenes and Skubal

The historical perspective, as seen in a June 14th, 2024, article, also underscores the enduring importance of mental fortitude. Pitchers have long been described as embodying "steely resolve" and possessing the "mental fortitude needed to thrive under pressure." This psychological dimension, combined with the physical execution of deceptive pitches and strategic sequencing, forms the bedrock of what makes a pitcher truly elite in this era of increased velocity and evolving strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are baseball pitchers Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal saying about pitching now?
They are saying that throwing the ball very fast is still important in baseball. But they also say pitchers need to be smart and use tricks with their pitches to beat batters.
Q: How fast are pitchers throwing now and in the future?
Pitchers are throwing very fast, and some might soon throw over 108 miles per hour. But just throwing hard is not enough to be a great pitcher.
Q: What else do Skenes and Skubal say makes a good pitcher?
They say pitchers need to be smart about which pitch to throw and when. They also talk about how to trick hitters with different kinds of pitches and how to throw the ball well.
Q: Why is this important for baseball fans?
This tells fans that even though pitchers are getting faster, the game is also about thinking and planning. It shows how players are working hard to be the best by using both speed and cleverness.