The Pittsburgh Pirates have struck a groundbreaking deal with right-hander Paul Skenes, the top selection in this year’s Major League Baseball amateur draft.
The record-setting contract was confirmed by MLB.com’s Jim Callis, who revealed that Skenes will receive an astonishing $9.2 million signing bonus.
This generous contract marks a historic moment for the Pirates and the league, as it surpasses the previous record held by Detroit Tigers Spencer Torkelson back in 2020, who received an $8.4 million signing bonus.
Although it’s half a million dollars below the recommended slot value for the #1 pick, the $9.2 million figure is still a significant milestone in MLB draft history.
“We are thrilled to have reached an agreement with Paul Skenes,” said Pirates General Manager, Sarah Thompson. “His exceptional talent and impressive performance on the field make him a valuable addition to the organization. We believe Paul has the potential to make a lasting impact on the team and the league.”
The Pirates decision to choose Skenes was driven by his power arsenal, which includes an upper-90s fastball and a devastating swing-and-miss slider.
His remarkable performance at LSU against top-tier competition, boasting a striking 48% strikeout rate during SEC play, further solidified his position as the #1 pick.
In selecting Skenes, the Pirates passed on other highly-touted position player prospects, most notably Skenes’ LSU teammate, outfielder Dylan Crews, who was eventually picked #2 by the Washington Nationals.
With this draft, Skenes and Crews became the first teammates in MLB draft history to go as the top two picks.
The signing of Skenes comes at a pivotal moment for the Pirates, who are currently undergoing a youth movement. Over the past month, several recent first-round picks have been called up to the majors, including outfielder Henry Davis (#1 pick in 2021), infielder Nick Gonzalez, and right-handed pitchers Quinn Priester and Carmen Mlodzinski.
Additionally, the Pirates recently promoted catcher Endy Rodríguez and infielder Liover Peguero, further emphasizing their commitment to building a competitive and youthful roster.
Anyone who has watched Skenes at LSU knows how special of a talent he is.
Not to jump ahead or anything, but it would be great for baseball if the Pirates are able to hold onto Skenes for the length of his career.
After all, most people assume it’s inevitable that such a generational talent will end up leaving for a big market team such as the Yankees or Dodgers once he can.
It would be great to have a franchise like Pittsburgh step up to the plate and try to build a true World Series contender.
How good of a career do you think Skenes will end up having?
If you were the Pirates, would you have chosen the 5-tool Crews instead?