After dominating minor league baseball for the first month of the 2024 season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have finally promoted the 2023 #1 overall pick, Paul Skenes.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In 27 innings with the Indianapolis Indians, the Pirates’ AAA affiliate, Skenes allowed only three earned runs and struck out 45 batters.
In his first four starts of the year, the 21-year-old did not allow a single run, amassing 12.2 shutout innings and racking up an impressive 27 strikeouts. This means he averaged over two strikeouts per inning at the start of the 2024 season.
Paul Skenes was making minor league hitters look SILLY. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/0ucCxeCAT5
— MLB (@MLB) May 8, 2024
The number one prospect in baseball possesses a fastball that consistently clocks in at around 100 MPH. In Skenes’s first five starts, he threw 76 fastballs that reached 100 MPH or faster. This feat led all of Minor League Baseball and surpassed any pitcher in the majors during the same period.
Paul Skenes's Absurd Stuff from the 1st Inning.
10 Consecutive 100+mph Fastballs (T102mph) and a Wicked Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/vjOqDbhlZD
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 31, 2023
Alongside his thunderous fastball, Skenes features a devastating curveball/splitter combination that contributed to a 13-2 record and a 1.69 ERA during his final season at LSU.
Skenes also mixes in a high 80s slider, which many have compared to Jacob deGrom’s.
Paul Skenes, Slider and 98mph Fastball, Individual Pitches + Overlay. pic.twitter.com/em7MA8PSrf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 4, 2023
Skenes is slated to make his highly anticipated major league debut this Saturday when the Pirates host the Cubs at home.
