Paul Skenes Blames World Baseball Classic for 2026 Velocity Drop

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes attributed his 2026 velocity drop and mechanical inconsistency to his World Baseball Classic involvement. His fastball averaged 96.8 mph, recently dipping to 95.7 mph, as the tournament altered his preparation. Skenes, holding a 10-11 record and 3.91 ERA, plans to use the offseason to regain his mechanics.