How Cy Young Winner Paul Skenes Is Spending His Offseason

Paul Skenes may still be old enough to be on his parents’ health insurance (he won’t even be 24 by the time the 2026 season rolls around), but he’s already dominating the MLB. Through two years, Skenes has already accumulated 21 wins and 386 strikeouts, while keeping his ERA under 2 (1.96, to be exact).

On Wednesday, Skenes was given the highest honor a pitcher can earn – capturing his first ever Cy Young award. At just 23 years and 122 days old on the final day of the ’25 regular season, Skenes is the fifth-youngest pitcher to win the award.

“It truly is a team effort with the coaches that we had and the players,” Skenes told MLB Network. “It’s pitchers making each other better, our catcher-pitching relationship, coaches, and the organization putting you in good spots to succeed. I couldn’t have done it by myself, and I’m super grateful that I’ve had the infrastructure around me to succeed.”

“I’m celebrating the Cy Young Award by getting back to work! It really doesn’t change much,” Skenes told reporters during a partnership appearance with Raising Cane’s. “Going into the off season, I know I’m not a finished product and I won’t be for a long time; so I’m just figuring out ways to get better. You start with the ‘what,’ then you move onto the ‘how,’ and making the team and franchise better. The ‘how’ is the day-to-day – I’m in Florida right now, and I’ll see my teammates occasionally, and we’re always talking, texting, and shooting ideas back and forth. You gotta work hard and then you have to figure out the most efficient way to get better.”

Despite his outstanding individual success, the Pittsburgh Pirates missed the postseason (71-91). But Skenes isn’t trying to get out of Pittsburgh; rather, he’s focused on winning where he is.

“I don’t know where that came from,” Skenes told reporters Wednesday night. “The goal is to win, and the goal is to win in Pittsburgh.”

Paul Skenes Off The Field Work With Raising Cane’s And The Gary Sinise Foundation

Along with his relentless effort to take his game to an even further level, Skenes is spending his offseason using his fortune and platform as a baseball player to give back to his community.

One cause that means a great deal to Skenes is helping veterans who are struggling with life after their service. This season, Skenes partnered with The Gary Sinise Foundation, donating $100 for every strikeout he recorded. So, his 216 Ks turned into a whopping $21,600 for the charity.

Founded by award-winning actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, the Foundation serves the nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. This is done through programs that are designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. This includes things like building specially adapted smart homes for our nation’s most severely wounded heroes and providing relief and resiliency resources for families and first responders, and supporting the families of fallen military heroes and first responders.

On top of his strikeout donation, Skenes helped spark a partnership between the Foundation and Raising Cane’s through his long-time friendship with Raising Cane’s owner and founder, Todd Graves.

As an LSU alum, Skenes has strong ties to the Raising Cane’s family, as he spent his college baseball years in close proximity to Raising Cane’s very first location.

Recently, Raising Cane’s has made an increased effort toward helping our nation’s heroes and their families. So, on Thursday, Skenes appeared at Raising Cane’s in West Palm Beach to accept a $500,000 donation to the Foundation and work a ‘shift’ at the location.

“This partnership is special. Cane’s is a household name, so for them to be willing to partner with the Gary Sinise Foundation is very selfless,” said Skenes during a press conference ahead of his “shift.” If you really think about it, baseball is pretty low on the totem pole of things that matter in this world. It’s really easy to get wrapped up in the game, but the highs and the lows in baseball aren’t adversity, definitely not to the extent that the men and women who fight for our country face adversity, so it really puts things in perspective.”

“The $500,000 we’ve raised will be used very directly to help veterans, from building houses to putting on events for veterans and their kids, fallen soldiers and airmen,” Skenes continued. “The Gary Sinise Foundation is a great foundation to partner with because the way they use their money very directly helps people.”

For those who are unfamiliar with Raising Cane’s famous athlete “shifts,” Skenes spent an hour working the drive-thru and front counter, taking the orders of 100 hungry fans – growing stronger and stronger on the mound with each passing customer.

Just like Skenes is willing to do whatever it takes to help his team on the baseball diamond get better, he is passionate about enhancing the lives of those around him.