Fitzpatrick: Skirrow wins Pelletier Award after dominant Atlantic League season
Great Lake Canadians alum and Lancaster Stormers right-hander Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) was voted CBN’s 2025 Claude Pelletier Award winner, as top Canadian pitcher in the independent or foreign ranks.
December 5, 2025
By Trevor Fitzpatrick
Canadian Baseball Network
After a dominant season with the Lancaster Stormers, Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) was named the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2025 Claude Pelletier Award winner.
The award is presented each year to the top Canadian pitcher in the independent or foreign professional ranks.
Skirrow was also awarded the independent Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year Award. During his incredible season, he led the league with 15 wins, was tied for most starts with 25, and was second in the league with a 3.99 ERA.
His second-half of the season was especially dominant, as he didn’t allow more than four hits in any of his last 15 starts.
“I was healthy, had good numbers, a good experience, overall it was a good time,” said Skirrow, “I know this is what I’m capable of and I’m fully prepared to repeat this performance.”
Skirrow had previously spent four years in the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization, reaching as high as triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was released following his 2024 season with the double-A Reading Fightin Phils, during which he posted a 4.66 ERA in 17 starts.
His minor league coaches gave his information to the Stormers, as they have former Phillies’ system members on their staff. It also helped that Skirrow’s wife has family in Lancaster.
The 27-year-old right-hander redefined himself last offseason, adding a harder cutter to his arsenal, and the results speak for themselves. On top of his other feats and awards, he struck out 143 batters.
“The cutter allows my breaking balls and changeup to work better late in the count,” he explained, “Every year you learn more about how your stuff works. This year was the first year it (the cutter) really clicked for me. It felt natural and repeatable.”
Skirrow’s ability to limit hits was reminiscent of one of his career highlights, his start against Colombia during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Fans likely remember the 5-0 shutout win as a showcase of what Canadian pitchers are capable of, as they only allowed five hits throughout the game. Skirrow tossed five of the nine innings, and struck out five.
“The 2023 WBC is still the best thing I’ve done in baseball,” he recalled, “it’s a fun fact whenever I’m on a new team and doing intros, no one believes I’m from Canada, especially since I don’t have an accent.”
He hopes that he’ll be considered for the 2026 WBC roster, but in the meantime, he’s determining his next move to work his way back into affiliated ball.
While he has a spot in Lancaster should he choose to return next season, the righty has faced some delays in regards to his green card. Because of that, he’s also been exploring his options to potentially play in Mexico or overseas in Asia.
No matter where he ends up, he’ll have the support of his wife, who was instrumental in him continuing his career following his release from the Phillies’ organization.
“When I got cut, I went ‘oh no, now what?’ She was the one who said, ‘what do you mean now what? We just figure it out, we always do.’”