New Signals, Same Heat: Skenes Adjusts to Rodriguez and Bart paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top pitching prospect, has made headlines with his electric fastball and a maturity on the mound that belies his age. As he continues to develop in Triple-A with the Indianapolis Indians, the flame-throwing right-hander has found himself adjusting to a new set of catchers — Endy Rodriguez and Joey Bart — each with distinct styles and philosophies behind the plate. Despite the change in signals and sequencing, Skenes has continued to bring the heat, showing the adaptability and poise that make him a future ace in the making.The recent rotation of catchers has been both a challenge and an opportunity for Skenes. Endy Rodriguez, a promising young catcher with solid defensive instincts, is known for his quick setup and advanced pitch-framing. Meanwhile, Joey Bart, acquired from the Giants organization, brings a more veteran presence and a different approach to pitch-calling. Where Rodriguez favors a more aggressive mix that leverages Skenes’ fastball early in counts, Bart leans into setting up hitters with secondary offerings before unleashing the heat.For a pitcher like Skenes — whose fastball regularly touches triple digits — the change in rhythm and communication can take time to adjust to. Yet, Skenes hasn’t missed a beat. His last few starts have shown an even greater command of his arsenal. The fastball remains the headliner, but what’s been especially impressive is how he’s begun to vary his sequencing depending on who’s behind the dish.In his last outing with Rodriguez catching, Skenes worked up in the zone with high heat, then dropped a devastating slider that left hitters frozen. With Bart, he opened with more sinkers and changeups, saving the high-velocity fastball as a put-away pitch. The results? A combined 12 innings, 19 strikeouts, and just 3 hits allowed over those two starts — a testament not only to his overpowering stuff but also to his growing understanding of how to weaponize it with different catchers.Pirates’ pitching coach Oscar Marin has praised Skenes for his adaptability, noting, “Most young pitchers are uncomfortable when they have to switch catchers. Paul not only handles it — he uses it as a learning tool. That’s what separates the good from the great.”Skenes, for his part, remains characteristically focused. “Every catcher sees the game a little differently,” he said after a recent outing. “It’s on me to make sure we’re on the same page, whether it’s Rodriguez, Bart, or anyone else. At the end of the day, the job doesn’t change — execute pitches.”This ability to adjust without compromising performance is exactly what the Pirates were hoping to see as they manage Skenes’ path to the big leagues. With every game, he’s proving not just that he has MLB-ready stuff, but also the mentality to handle big-league pressure, multiple batteries, and all the nuances that come with being a front-line starter.The signals might change, but the message from Skenes remains clear — he’s coming, and he’s bringing the heat with him.
