Pirates' Paul Skenes to Receive NL Cy Young Award from Franchise Great

Former All-Star Doug Drabek will present the prestigious award to the 23-year-old ace at PNC Park.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:39am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher in the middle of his throwing motion, with the ball, glove, and other elements of the scene fractured into sharp, overlapping planes, conceptually representing the transition of pitching greatness from one generation to the next.A symbolic passing of the torch as a Pirates legend honors the team's new ace with the prestigious Cy Young Award.Today in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes will receive the 2025 National League Cy Young Award from franchise legend Doug Drabek before Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Drabek, who won the award himself in 1990, will make a special appearance to present the prestigious plaque to the 23-year-old Skenes, who is off to a strong start in 2026 after winning the award last season.

Why it matters

Skenes' Cy Young win last year was the first for a Pirates pitcher since Drabek in 1990, and the ceremony will be a special moment for the franchise and its fans as they hope Skenes can help lead the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

The details

Drabek, who is currently a pitching coach for the Triple-A Reno Aces in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, received special permission to attend the ceremony at PNC Park. Skenes, a two-time All-Star and the 2025 NL Rookie of the Year, has bounced back from a rough Opening Day outing, lowering his ERA from 67.50 to 4.00 over his last 17.1 innings.

  • Skenes will receive the award before Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
  • Drabek won the NL Cy Young Award in 1990 while pitching for the Pirates.

The players

Paul Skenes

A 23-year-old pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award.

Doug Drabek

A former All-Star pitcher who won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990 while playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He currently works as a pitching coach for the Triple-A Reno Aces in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.

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What they’re saying

“Drabek announced Skenes as the Cy Young winner last November from his home office, so it is only fitting that he gives the 23-year-old the prestigious plaque in person.”

— Jose Negron, Reporter, DK Pittsburgh Sports

What’s next

The Pirates hope that Skenes' Cy Young Award and the ceremony honoring him will help inspire the team to make its first playoff appearance since 2015.

The takeaway

The presentation of the Cy Young Award to Paul Skenes by franchise great Doug Drabek is a symbolic passing of the torch, as the Pirates look to Skenes to lead them back to the postseason and recapture the success the team enjoyed when Drabek was on the mound.