Paul Skenes
21-Year-Old
2024 Stats
W-L
0-0
ERA
0.00
WHIP
0.00
K
0
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, is such a good pitching prospect that the most interesting thing to discuss with him is when he will make his big-league debut. He tallied 122.2 innings for LSU and 6.2 innings across stops at rookie ball, Single-A and Double-A last season (129.1 total innings), so there shouldn't be any notable workload restrictions in his age-22 season beyond the normal care teams show their most prized young arms. Additionally, if Skenes were to spend a full year in the majors and win rookie of the year, the Pirates would be rewarded with a Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick at the end of the first round in 2025. The 6-foot-6 righty boasts two potential 80-grade pitches in his fastball (sits 99-100 mph, touches 103) and mid-80s slider. He has started throwing his upper-80s changeup more, and that looks like a potential third elite offering. The only things that could derail an ascent to ace status in a few years are injuries and/or unforeseen command issues. Skenes is generally seen as the best college pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg, and Strasburg made 11 starts in the upper-levels of the minors before making his big-league debut. That could be Skenes' path as well, but there are different incentives in place now, so he will be appointment viewing in spring training games for as long as he remains in big-league camp. Read Past Outlooks
Surrenders first run at Triple-A
Skenes allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk while striking out seven across 4.1 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Skenes faced adversity at the highest level of the minors for the first time, as he surrendered his first run after 14.1 innings of work. There were still plenty of positives to take away from the outing, however, the most notable of which is that he ramped up to 71 pitches. The Pirates have refused to give any indication of when Skenes will make his big-league debut, but there is a current opening in the rotation with Marco Gonzales (elbow) sidelined.
Skenes faced adversity at the highest level of the minors for the first time, as he surrendered his first run after 14.1 innings of work. There were still plenty of positives to take away from the outing, however, the most notable of which is that he ramped up to 71 pitches. The Pirates have refused to give any indication of when Skenes will make his big-league debut, but there is a current opening in the rotation with Marco Gonzales (elbow) sidelined.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Not MLB ready
According to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, Skenes won't be an option to pitch for the Pirates after Marco Gonzales was placed on the shelf Sunday with a forearm injury.
ANALYSIS
Skenes has built up to only 55 pitches early in the season as the organization closely monitors his workload, so he likely won't be called up anytime soon. That pitch count is a professional high for the 21-year-old, and Pittsburgh will likely continue taking things slow. The 2023 first overall pick still has a chance to make his MLB debut this year, but he likely won't be a viable option until at least the summer months.
Skenes has built up to only 55 pitches early in the season as the organization closely monitors his workload, so he likely won't be called up anytime soon. That pitch count is a professional high for the 21-year-old, and Pittsburgh will likely continue taking things slow. The 2023 first overall pick still has a chance to make his MLB debut this year, but he likely won't be a viable option until at least the summer months.
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Ramps up to 65 pitches
Skenes allowed one hit and two walks while striking out eight across 3.1 scoreless innings in a start with Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.
ANALYSIS
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Not immediate option for rotation
Skenes will not fill the rotation spot of Marco Gonzales (forearm) in the short term, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Dominates across 3.1 innings
Skenes allowed three hits and a walk while striking out eight across 3.1 scoreless innings in Friday's start with Triple-A Indianapolis.
ANALYSIS
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Three perfect innings
Skenes threw three perfect innings while striking out five in Saturday's game with Triple-A Indianapolis.
ANALYSIS
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Bound for Triple-A
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Monday that Skenes will begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
ANALYSIS
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