In the 2023 Major League Baseball draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes from LSU as their top pick. Skenes had an outstanding season, clinching the National Pitcher of the Year award, the Dick Howser Trophy for national player of the year, and helped secure a College World Series championship, where he was also named the Most Outstanding Player.
Skenes openly acknowledges his aspiration to make it to the Major League Baseball stage, expressing his focus on preparing himself for success. Despite being just a step away, he admits to feeling a bit impatient.
Acknowledging this impatience, Skenes emphasizes the importance of executing his skills effectively. His performance in Triple-A Indianapolis continues to impress, as demonstrated by his recent outing where he allowed only one hit and struck out eight batters in 3 1/3 innings. The Pirates are gradually increasing his workload to prepare him for a starting role.
In total, Skenes has yielded just five hits and four walks across 12 2/3 innings without conceding a single run. Remarkably, he has amassed an eye-popping 27 strikeouts in this short span, equating to a staggering 57.4% strikeout rate. His opponents have managed a feeble .116/.192/.140 slash line against him, resulting in an almost comical .332 OPS.
Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, Skenes commands attention even before considering his pitching arsenal. Frequently hitting triple digits on the radar gun with his fastball, he complements it with a devastating slider and a newly introduced pitch, which he insists is merely a sinker despite some labeling it as a hybrid of a changeup and a splitter.
Despite his dominant performances, Skenes finds himself stationed in Triple-A, patiently awaiting his call-up while the Pirates exercise caution with his valuable arm, citing workload management. His innings pitched and pitch counts in each start reflect this careful approach:
– 3 innings, 46 pitches
– 3 innings, 44 pitches
– 3 1/3 innings, 55 pitches
– 3 1/3 innings, 65 pitches
Considering these figures, it’s worth noting that Skenes hasn’t allowed a single run yet. Furthermore, he delivered two complete games during his time at LSU last season, averaging over six innings per outing, accumulating a workload of just over 122 innings before being drafted (with an additional 6 2/3 innings across three minor league levels).
Given his dominance in Triple-A, one might assume Skenes feels frustration every time he’s pulled from a game early, but does he?
“Yeah, for sure, but it’s also where we’re at in the season right now,” Skenes said.
Skenes makes firing 100+ mph fastballs look oh, so easy. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gkJi2b0u2H
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) April 19, 2024
Skenes is uncertain about the Pittsburgh Pirates’ strategy to gradually increase his pitch counts, admitting he has “no idea” about their plans for a potential promotion. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington recently shed some light on their approach, emphasizing their deliberate efforts to manage Skenes’ workload carefully, aiming to achieve two main objectives.
Cherington explained during his appearance on the 93.7 The Fan radio show that they are working to build Skenes’ pitching volume gradually, considering his extensive college season last year followed by a brief stint in professional baseball. Their goal is to avoid sudden spikes in workload to protect Skenes’ long-term health and effectiveness.
With each outing, it seems Skenes is inching closer to a potential call-up. The Pirates might consider allowing him to extend his pitch count by another 10 pitches in the next game, possibly reaching 75 pitches, which could signal that his Major League debut is on the horizon.
As the Pirates show promise early in the 2024 season, currently holding an 11-11 record, Skenes is keeping tabs on the big-league club’s progress. He acknowledges the importance of winning and expresses his desire to contribute to a successful team, regardless of his role.
Considering the team’s competitiveness and their aspirations for a full season of contention, it’s unlikely that the Pirates would promote Skenes only to limit his innings and strain their bullpen unnecessarily. When Skenes joins the Major League roster, it’s reasonable to expect that he’ll be given ample opportunity to showcase his talents on the mound.
While the exact threshold for a promotion remains uncertain, whether it’s 75 pitches or 100, eventually the Pirates will summon Skenes to make his debut in the Major Leagues. As one scout aptly noted, there’s little benefit in allowing him to dominate Triple-A indefinitely.
The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t selected a college pitcher as their top pick since Gerrit Cole, who was drafted from UCLA in 2011. Cole quickly ascended through the ranks, making playoff appearances as early as 2013 and becoming the team’s ace in 2015. He earned All-Star honors and finished fourth in Cy Young Award voting. Despite Cole’s success, Skenes hasn’t dwelled much on following in his footsteps.
When asked about Cole, Skenes admitted, “Not a ton.” He emphasized the desire to forge their own path of success, aiming for sustained winning over several years rather than simply emulating past achievements.
The Pirates’ team from roughly a decade ago was significant, ending a 20-season streak without a winning record and making three consecutive playoff appearances, albeit with limited success in the postseason. However, since then, the Pirates haven’t reached the playoffs, won their division since 1992, or secured the NL Central title.
Teaming up with veteran All-Star Mitch Keller and promising youngster Jared Jones, Skenes has the potential to form a formidable 1-2-3 rotation for the Pirates, perhaps resembling a trio of aces in a playoff scenario in the near future. While there’s no rush, this possibility could even materialize this season. At 21 years old, Skenes, along with 22-year-old Jones and the 28-year-old Keller, presents a promising future for the team.
For now, Skenes continues to dominate Triple-A hitters while gradually increasing his workload, knowing he’s just one step away from achieving his dream of becoming a Major League pitcher.
