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Pirates Promote Phenom Paul Skenes, 2023’s Top Draft Pick
Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Pirates Promote Phenom Paul Skenes, 2023’s Top Draft Pick

Originally posted on Burn City Sports  |  By Jacob Hardin  |  Last updated 5/8/24

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.

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.

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.

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.

Skenes is slated to make his highly anticipated major league debut this Saturday when the Pirates host the Cubs at home.

This article first appeared on Burn City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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