Skenes 2027: Pirates foresee changes to his arsenal, not a velocity comeback
In the Pirates mailbag, Colin Beazley says Paul Skenes is unlikely to regain his 2025‑level velocity in 2027; the drop is tied to offspeed pitches and command, not fastball speed, and participation in the World Baseball Classic didn’t cause the down year due to a pitch count. He expects a different, better Skenes in 2027 with tweaks to his repertoire and mechanics, while also weighing offseason roster questions, Henry Davis’ role, and the Pirates’ slim playoff odds (about 7.8%).