When news broke today that Shohei Ohtani unleashed the fastest pitch of his MLB career — a blistering 101.7 mph fastball against Vinnie Pasquantino of the Kansas City Royals — it brought my recent thoughts about the growing velocity and talent we’re seeing on major league mounds. With the trade deadline just around the corner, the Cubs are in a spot where they desperately need help — both in the rotation and the bullpen. Elite pitching has never been more valuable — whether you’re developing arms from within or making a big trade to get one. That got me thinking about three of the game’s most exciting young pitchers: Cade Horton, Paul Skenes, and Jacob Misiorowski. How do their paths and potential stack up against someone who’s already reached that elite level, like Tarik Skubal?
In today’s game, where the search for the next ace is constant, it’s fascinating to see what separates a top prospect from a pitcher already thriving in the big leagues. Looking at Horton, Skenes, and Misiorowski alongside Skubal offers a clear picture of the different roads that can lead to dominance on the mound.
Tarik Skubal, the left-handed flamethrower for the Detroit Tigers, has firmly established himself as one of baseball’s premier pitchers. At 28 years old, he has already been named an All-Star, won the American League Cy Young Award, and secured the Triple Crown in 2024, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. His 2025 numbers continue to reflect his elite status: a 10-2 record, 2.29 ERA, 125 strikeouts, and a 0.87 WHIP over 102 innings. Projections suggest he could once again lead the league in ERA and strikeouts.
Skubal’s success stems from a refined blend of power and precision. He throws five distinct pitches: a four-seam fastball that touches 102.6 mph and averages 97.6, a 97.3 mph sinker, a sharp 89.6 mph slider, an 81.2 mph curveball, and an 88.4 mph changeup. That changeup, a seam-shifted wake pitch, transformed his game. Developed over three years with help from Driveline Baseball and the Tigers’ pitching lab, it went from a splitter to a two-seam changeup, with seam orientation designed to enhance unpredictable movement. The pitch dips, fades, and dances, and has become one of his most effective weapons.
Beyond pure stuff, Skubal’s command and efficiency stand out. His league-best 28.7% walk rate in 2025 marks a major improvement. He attacks the strike zone confidently because his pitches are difficult to barrel, even in hitter-friendly locations. His pinpoint control, combined with overpowering velocity, makes him especially tough to hit. His return from flexor tendon surgery in August 2022 and subsequent dominance in 2023 and 2024 provide a model for young pitchers dealing with similar setbacks.
Now attention turns to the next wave of arms, each with unique tools and trajectories.
Paul Skenes, the 2023 first overall pick by the Pirates, debuted in May 2024 with enormous hype—and he’s delivered. Just 22 years old, he quickly earned a Rookie of the Year award, All-Star selection, and earned Cy Young Award in 2024. Despite a 4-7 record on a rebuilding team, he boasts a 2.12 ERA, 110 strikeouts, and a 0.91 WHIP over 106 innings in 2025.
Skenes throws a triple-digit fastball averaging 98.1 mph. In his first seven MLB starts, he threw over 65 pitches above 100 mph—more than half of all such pitches thrown by MLB starters in 2024. His arsenal includes a splitter, sweeper, slider, curveball, changeup, sinker, and a unique “splinker” that blends splitter and sinker traits.
Interestingly, Skenes downplays traditional injury concerns linked to velocity, stating he “didn’t read” related research. Instead, he models his training on durable high-velocity pitchers like Verlander and Cole. His development at LSU under Wes Johnson emphasized mechanical refinement, not velocity caps. This approach reflects a larger debate in player development: injury prevention through individualized biomechanics versus broad workload restrictions. So far, Skenes’ strategy has worked.
Jacob Misiorowski, the 6-foot-7 right-hander drafted by Milwaukee in 2022, debuted in June 2025. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and fired a 102.2 mph fastball—the second-fastest by a starter this season. His MLB numbers are excellent: a 3-0 record, 1.13 ERA, and 19 strikeouts in 16 innings. At Triple-A earlier in 2025, he posted a 2.13 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 63.1 innings.
Misiorowski’s fastball averages 97.7 mph and has touched 103 in the minors. He combines elite velocity with 7.4 feet of extension and a low release point, making the ball appear even faster. His slider sits between 92–95 mph, and he also throws an 85–87 mph curveball and a 90.9 mph changeup. Many of his secondary pitches are so firm and sharp that Statcast registers them as fastballs—a testament to his deception.
Command, however, remains his main challenge. He posted walk rates of 13.4% in 2023 and 14.4% in 2024, and while 2025 has shown some improvement (4.41 BB/9 at Triple-A), his control remains inconsistent. He issued four walks in five innings during his MLB debut. His secondary pitches, while deceptive, might contribute to the problem—appearing too similar, making them harder to locate precisely. For Misiorowski to stick in a starting role, refining his command is essential.
Cade Horton, the Cubs’ 2022 first-round pick, is widely considered their most promising pitching prospect in decades. At 23, he debuted in 2025 after Shota Imanaga’s groin injury. His early big-league results include a 3-2 record and 4.80 ERA over 45 innings. In Triple-A earlier this year, he posted a 1.24 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 29 innings.
Horton’s fastball sits mid-90s and touches 98 mph. He also throws a two-seamer, an 83–86 mph wipeout slider, a curveball, and a fading upper-80s changeup. The Cubs have worked to expand his arsenal beyond his two main offerings.
Horton’s biggest concern is durability. He missed the 2021 college season due to Tommy John surgery and dealt with a shoulder strain in 2024. He’s pitched just 151.2 professional innings and has never exceeded 80 pitches in a start. The Cubs are closely managing his workload to protect his long-term health. This approach raises questions about how fully prepared he—and others on similar paths—are for the demands of a full MLB starter’s workload.
Across all four pitchers, a few key themes emerge.
Each possesses elite velocity. Skubal and Skenes consistently operate in the upper 90s and beyond. Horton and Misiorowski aren’t far behind, frequently touching upper 90s or low 100s. All have strong secondary offerings: Skubal’s seam-shifted changeup, Skenes’ diverse mix, Horton’s slider, and Misiorowski’s fastball-like secondaries.
Command separates them. Skubal’s elite control is evident in his low walk rate. Skenes pairs overpowering stuff with solid command. Horton has shown flashes, especially at Triple-A. Misiorowski is still trying to gain consistency in this area.
Injury history and workload management are ever-present concerns. Horton has the most extensive injury record, but Skubal also returned from surgery. Skenes and Misiorowski have avoided major setbacks so far. Organizations are cautious—limiting innings for Horton and capping Misiorowski’s year-over-year increase to under 50%. These strategies reflect the difficult balance between protecting young arms and preparing them for the rigors of MLB.
Mental makeup is another critical factor. Skubal’s resilience, Skenes’ confidence and leadership, Misiorowski’s intensity, and Horton’s adaptability each point to strong competitive character. These intangibles may prove just as important as pitch velocity or spin rate.
Here’s the thing, folks: Tarik Skubal has set a high bar. Paul Skenes seems poised to reach that level, given his immediate success and advanced tools. Misiorowski could join the elite tier if he reins in his command. Horton, meanwhile, has frontline potential—but durability will define whether he reaches it. Their development will be closely watched, as each pitcher’s career offers insight into what it takes to build and maintain greatness on the mound.
With that… While the Cubs needs in the rotation and bullpen are clear it is highly unlikely we will see them put together a blockbuster deal for Skenes. However, they have recently had conversations with the Pirates about Mitch Keeler who might be headed to Chicago in the coming weeks.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!