Saturday was a major one for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as their top prospect Paul Skenes was making his major league debut. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft was truly dominant in Triple-A this season and was looking to carry that over into the major leagues.
Many people wondered whether his game would translate to the next level; he wasted very little time showing that he could. Paul Skenes struck out the first two batters that he faced, as it quickly became evident that his stuff was going to play well in the majors.
He pitched into the fifth inning of his debut, as he was pulled after giving up a double and infield single. That ended his afternoon after 4+ innings, as he was charged with three earned runs, giving up six hits and two walks.
He gave up a home run, something he didn’t do very often in the minor leagues as his last start with Triple-A Indianapolis was the first long ball he gave up as a pro. He also struck out seven Cubs in total, as he had some nasty stuff throughout the afternoon. 17 of his 84 pitches were at least 100 miles per hour as well.
As shared by ESPN, Paul Skenes is the first Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher 21 years of age or younger to record at least seven strikeouts in their debut since Nick Maddux in 1907. He struck out 11 St. Louis Cardinals in that game.
There was some major buzz in PNC Park on Saturday afternoon for his debut. Droves of fans were there seeking autographs from one of the best young players in baseball. He certainly didn’t look out of place, as the Pittsburgh Pirates are hoping he can become a franchise cornerstone.
The future is bright for the team, as they have one of the best young trios atop their starting rotation. Paul Skenes is joining fellow dominant rookie Jared Jones and Mitch Keller, giving the team something to look forward to on the mound for years to come.
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