MMV #035: Analyzing 8 Parts of Paul Skenes Pitching Mechanics

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Read time: 4 minutes

Paul Skenes had an incredible 2023 college season.

✅ Up to 102.2mph

✅ 45% strikeout rate

✅ 4.3% walk rate

✅ 1.83 ERA

Here are the 8 parts of his delivery that helped lead him to becoming the #1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

1. The Drift

What we are looking for is the lead hip to pass the red line upon peak leg lift.

Skenes does a great job shifting his weight down the mound and creating momentum.

2. The Load

He does a great job hinging at the hips and holding it as he goes into his stride.

Notice his hips stay behind the red line until it’s time to rotate into foot plant.

He could do a better job keeping his back foot stable and not sliding the heel out, but this could be in part to a wet mound.

3. The Lead Leg

There is no drift in the front leg after landing.

The lead leg stops forward momentum and the knee begins to extend into ball release.

This allows him to transfer energy efficiently up the chain.

4. Elbow Flexion

At foot plant we are looking for around 90 degrees of flexion at the elbow.

The arm is strongest at 90° angles.

Skenes is in a good position at or slightly inside 90°.

5. Shoulder External Rotation

At foot plant we are looking for between 45-90°. Less than 45° we would consider a late arm.

Paul is borderline late, but without a high speed camera it is tough to tell when his front foot is fully in the ground.

6. Pelvis and Torso Rotation

Skenes does a great job of rotating the pelvis into foot plant, while delaying the torso.

Once the front foot lands he is stable and puts himself in a great position to accelerate the torso into ball release.

7. Plane of Rotation

At ball release the tilt of the shoulders and arm slot should be at roughly a 90° angle.

This will allow for the arm to rotate efficiently and put the shoulder in a healthier position.

A easy way to look at this is to measure the angle along the oblique to the arm pit, and to the arm slot.

Skenes is clearly in plane of rotation.

8.Trunk Flexion at Ball Release

An easy way to see if you have enough trunk flexion is to draw a a line straight up from your front foot.

Ball release should be occurring in front of this line.

Skenes appears to be right at the line.

Skenes Mechanical Recap:

✅ Shifts center of mass

✅ Holds hinge down the mound

✅ Blocks well with lead leg

✅ Great elbow flexion

✅ Shoulder ER is borderline late

✅ Pelvis and torso rotation are on point

✅ Arm is in plane of rotation

✅ Trunk flexion at ball release is right at the line

Overall Skenes has an excellent delivery and it’s no surprise he has become the dominant pitcher he is.

That's all for today.

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