The beginning of Paul Skenes’ time with the Pittsburgh Pirates is about to kick off. As per a reliable source, Skenes, the top selection in last year’s amateur draft, is set to make his debut in the major leagues for the Pirates on Saturday against the Cubs.
Although the Pirates hadn’t officially confirmed the promotion, they did release a teaser video featuring Skenes with the date “5.11.24.”
The 21-year-old pitcher, chosen as the first pick after impressive performances at LSU, has been dominant at Triple-A Indianapolis. With a fastball that often reaches over 100 mph, Skenes has posted an impressive 0.99 ERA in seven Triple-A starts, striking out 45 batters in 27 1/3 innings.
Regarded as one of baseball’s top prospects, Skenes also draws attention for his off-field connections, particularly with LSU gymnast and social media influencer Livvy Dunne.
During the spring, the Pirates carefully managed Skenes’ progression, gradually increasing his pitch count at Triple-A. Recently, they have given him more freedom, with him throwing 75 pitches on April 30 and 66 on Sunday against Buffalo.
Skenes will join a rotation that includes another young rookie, 22-year-old Jared Jones, who has impressed with a 2.63 ERA in seven starts and ranks ninth in strikeouts among all major league pitchers.
Despite a strong start to the season, the Pirates have struggled lately, winning only six out of their last 22 games. After a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, they have a day off on Thursday before resuming play.
