Paul Skenes’ history as catcher helped him become elite starting pitcher

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes’ responsibilities at Air Force were unlike any other player in the country. When the Falcons held the lead late, Skenes raced from playing catcher to the bullpen to warm up as the pitcher. It was his job to close out the game on the mound.

“It was pretty superhuman,” said Sammy Kulasingam, Skenes’ teammate at Air Force.

Before Skenes developed into one of…