Similarly, Skenes has famously adopted a regimen of discipline, and pregame routine that he follows religiously. In high school, though, he was still a project. He could do it all, including crush military PT benchmarks that helped him gain admission to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
Left as is, Skenes still might have become a first-round pick, with many wondering whether he could become the next Shohei Ohtani, especially after winning the 2022 John Olerud Award as the nation’s best two way player.
Only after transferring to LSU did it likely register that Skenes’ ultimate legacy would be strictly on the mound. Pitching coach Wes Johnson had already harnessed elite power arms and turned them into fearful, unhittable aces.
All Stars Sonny Gray and standout closer Jhoan Duran both refined their skills and reached another level under Johnson’s tutelage as the pitching coach of the Minnesota Twins. At LSU, Skenes’ repertoire developed into the machine that is now on display in the Pirates rotation. He is the ultimate example of Johnson’s system brought to fruition.
Now, in 2026, a resurgence is underway in Pittsburgh. A Wild Card berth, and/or more is genuinely realistic. But how long can the Bucs keep Hernandez down while he makes a mockery of the opposition in Bradenton and the Florida State A Ball League?
Unlike Skenes, who blazed triple digit heat past hitters during brief stops at Bradenton, Altoona, and Indy before his Rookie of the Year campaign, Hernandez still seems to be viewed as a project.
Velo Drop Intentional, Or Cause For Concern?
Aside from being 19, another indicator is the slight drop in velocity to focus more on strike efficiency and location. He still touches 98, but almost by design sits around 95 with pinpoint fastball command. His release point and extension are long and high, which is obviously different from Skenes.
The difference maker for Hernandez, and the refining factor he appears to have fully embraced, is his changeup. It is already MLB ready and carries nearly a 75 percent whiff rate. That alone draws comparisons to another perennial Cy Young contender, Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who is unfortunately on the injured list for what appears to be an extended stretch.
Maybe Skubal’s recent injury has offered a cautionary tale for Hernandez’s development. With such a lethal and controllable changeup, is there really a need for triple digit heat? It is nice to have in the bag, but the Pirates likely want to rely on both of their aces for years without concerns over wear and tear.
Similar – But Different Pirate Aces
So there it is. Two generational arms with the same ball club who developed similarly, but at different stages, and refined their craft with slightly different arsenals.
Skenes is the innovator, dropping splinkers and sweepers that leave hitters mystified. Hernandez counters with old fashioned bread and butter execution delivered with gold star efficiency.
Quite simply, it is a great time to be a Pirates fan.
Paul Skenes Player Card – Here
