The hype was all about Paul Skenes. Fans packed into American Family Field to see the Pirates’ flame-throwing prodigy face the Brewers. But by the end of five innings, it wasn’t Skenes they were talking about, it was Jacob Misiorowski. The Brewers’ rookie didn’t just rise to the moment. He owned it. Five shutout innings. Eight strikeouts. A fastball that looked like it was launched from a cannon and a slider that danced with wicked intent.If Skenes was the headliner, Misiorowski stole the show. And former MLB player turned analyst Xavier Scruggs took notice. On MLB Network Radio, Scruggs offered an unfiltered breakdown of just how tough Misiorowski is to hit, not just because of the velocity, but the deception baked into every pitch. It wasn’t your usual postgame praise. It sounded more like a reality check for hitters across the league.“Yes, he (Jacob Misiorowski) throws 99, averages 99.6 on the fastball, but I want people to understand the extension,” Scruggs said. “He’s 6’7” doing this, and the ball is released so close that visually, it looks halfway to the plate… You know what normal 100 looks like. But when it’s coming from that angle, that close, with that movement? Good luck figuring out the seams.”Jacob Misiorowski put on a show yesterday against Paul Skenes and the Pirates @Brewers | #ThisIsMyCrew https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4 pic.twitter.com/KjEtBHnhlV— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 26, 2025And that’s what made Tuesday night so stunning. Misiorowski wasn’t just overpowering; he was disorienting. His 7.6-foot extension makes his fastball appear to teleport halfway to home plate. Hitters don’t have time to react, let alone pick up spin. Scruggs described the late movement on Misiorowski’s pitches as “just too tough” to handle, especially when combined with a slider humming in at 95 mph.That’s the kind of arsenal that turns a prospect into a problem. Skenes, for all his upside, didn’t last past the fourth. Misiorowski, meanwhile, walked off the mound to a standing ovation after slicing through Pittsburgh’s lineup like a veteran ace. There was no fear. No nerves. Just fire and command.This wasn’t a “welcome to the big leagues” moment. This was a warning. Jacob Misiorowski isn’t coming for headlines; he’s coming for hitters. And if Xavier Scruggs’ assessment is any indication, there are going to be a lot of uncomfortable at-bats in the very near future.Triple-digit heat meets mutual respect: Jacob Misiorowski’s electric start & Paul Skenes showdownJacob Misiorowski didn’t ease into his second big-league start; he detonated out of the gate. The 6-foot-7 righty uncorked twelve 100+ mph fastballs in the first inning alone, including a top reading of 102.1 mph. That opening barrage wasn’t just eye-popping, it was historic. No MLB pitcher this season had matched that many triple-digit offerings in a first inning. And it wasn’t just a show of force; Misiorowski’s velocity produced results, fueling a dominant five-inning outing that had fans buzzing and analysts scrambling for comps.By the end of his second career start, Misiorowski had already racked up 52 pitches over 100 mph, the most by any starter in baseball this season. His 29 triple-digit fastballs against Pittsburgh placed him in elite company, rubbing shoulders with velocity monsters like Hunter Greene and Jacob deGrom. Yet what truly stood out wasn’t just the power, it was the poise. Misiorowski didn’t let the spotlight blind him, even with Skenes, the reigning Rookie of the Year, on the opposing mound.Credit: Imagn ImagesAfter the game, Misiorowski struck a tone of genuine respect for his counterpart. “I’ve watched plenty of his games,” he said. “It’s awesome to face a guy like that and really compare yourself to some of the best.” Still, he admitted the hype around the matchup was almost overwhelming. “Everything I swiped was me and Skenes, me and Skenes… I had to mute it, turn it off.” That self-awareness, paired with elite stuff, underscores why this wasn’t just a one-game marvel. It was a glimpse at the future of pitching.Jacob Misiorowski didn’t just win the duel; he passed the first real test of being the guy under the microscope.The post Jacob Misiorowski’s Dominance Over Paul Skenes’ Pirates Prompts Strong Message From Ex-MLB Star appeared first on EssentiallySports.