Paul Skenes believed he was prepared for the major leagues many months back.
But as it turned out, things don’t always happen as quickly as expected. The Pittsburgh Pirates decided to take a cautious approach with Skenes, considered one of the most promising pitching prospects in years. “You can’t just show up at spring training and expect to pitch like a pro,” Skenes explained.
Instead, the Pirates chose to gradually develop the young pitcher, protecting his arm and ensuring he was fully ready. Skenes spent time at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he consistently performed well, with an impressive ERA of 0.99 in seven starts. Despite the anticipation, he focused on his game, trying not to dwell too much on when he might get the call to the big leagues.
The plan worked out better than expected.
Surprisingly, Skenes was taking a nap on Wednesday when manager Miguel Perez tried to inform him about his move to Pittsburgh. Perez, known for his creative ways of breaking such news, decided to be straightforward with Skenes this time. It was fitting for a team eager to see its young talent shine.
“He asked me if I wanted him to look for another pitcher for Saturday,” Skenes recalled. “I asked if he was serious, and he said yes, I was going to the big leagues.”
Their chat lasted only two minutes. Less than two days later, Skenes found himself in the clubhouse at PNC Park, with a locker bearing his name and the number “30.” He is set to make his MLB debut on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, in what could be one of the most anticipated pitching debuts since Stephen Strasburg’s memorable start in 2009.
