Yankees Hall of Famer Praises Pirates' Skenes' Incredible Skill

CC Sabathia marvels at the young pitcher's ability to dominate the strike zone.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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CC Sabathia, a recent New York Yankees Hall of Fame inductee, took to social media to heap praise on Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, calling his ability to move the ball around the strike zone and possess an array of pitches as something "most people don't understand how hard this is." Skenes, a two-time All-Star in his first two MLB seasons, has already drawn trade rumors linking him to the Yankees, but the young pitcher quickly shot down those reports.

Why it matters

Sabathia's praise of Skenes highlights the young pitcher's rising star status in the league, and the Yankees' potential interest in acquiring him underscores Skenes' immense talent and value. The trade rumors also speak to the intense competition for top pitching talent in Major League Baseball.

The details

Sabathia, a six-time All-Star and 2009 World Series champion with the Yankees, expressed his awe of Skenes' pitching ability on social media, saying "Most people don't understand how hard this is" in reference to Skenes' command and repertoire. Skenes, the first pitcher in MLB history to start the All-Star game in each of his first two seasons, recently denied reports that he wanted to force a trade to the Yankees, calling the rumors "not true" and saying he was only "frustrated for a couple of hours" before addressing the media.

  • On February 17, 2026, CC Sabathia praised Paul Skenes on social media.
  • In November, rumors spread that Skenes wanted to be traded to the Yankees.

The players

CC Sabathia

A former New York Yankees pitcher who was recently inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Paul Skenes

A pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who has made the All-Star team in each of his first two MLB seasons, the first player to accomplish that feat.

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What they’re saying

“Most people don't understand how hard this is”

— CC Sabathia (X)

“I was frustrated for a couple of hours and then got over it and talked to the media later that night. It is what it is. There's stuff that's gonna come out, good and bad. Obviously, it's not true.”

— Paul Skenes (Sporting News)

The takeaway

Sabathia's praise of Skenes' elite pitching ability underscores the young star's rising status in the league, while Skenes' quick dismissal of trade rumors to the Yankees shows his commitment to the Pirates and willingness to address distractions head-on as he continues to establish himself as one of baseball's top young arms.