Paul Skenes led his LSU Tigers to the college baseball national championship a few months ago. He was then drafted #1 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the MLB Draft.
He wasted no time making his presence felt as he made his professional debut appearance for the Pirates rookie-level affiliate in the Florida Complex League.
Skenes wasted no time showing he is more than capable of living up to the hype surrounding his name.
In his inaugural outing, Skenes took the mound and demonstrated why he was the top choice in this year’s draft. The 21-year-old right-hander pitched a perfect inning, retiring all three batters he faced and leaving fans and scouts alike in awe.
The highlight of his performance came in the form of a blistering 101 mph fastball that left Minnesota Twins prospect Walker Jenkins swinging for air, resulting in a memorable strikeout.
Paul Skenes strikes out Walker Jenkins with a 99 MPH fastball🔥
He topped at 101 and retired all three batters he faced in his pro debut💯 pic.twitter.com/5S9bs4AUJn
— Austin Oravec (@austinoravec) August 10, 2023
Skenes’ remarkable debut has raised expectations not only among fans but also within the Pirates front office.
Many believe that his incredible talent and composure on the mound could see him making his mark on the big league sooner rather than later.
While Skenes’ potential seems limitless, the Pirates are taking a cautious approach with their prized prospect. Despite his readiness for higher competition, the organization is mindful of not overburdening the young pitcher.Â
Skenes’ journey to this point has been nothing short of impressive. During his college career at LSU, he led the Tigers to a national title with a stellar 1.69 ERA and an impressive 209 strikeouts.
The Pirates substantial investment in him, a record-setting $9.2 million signing bonus, speaks volumes about the confidence they have in his abilities.
Comparisons to past pitching greats have already begun circulating, with some pundits likening Skenes’ potential impact to that of Stephen Strasburg, who made his MLB debut the year after being drafted in 2009.
There’s hope that his professional career will turn out even better than Strasburg’s. Hopefully he avoids the injuries that have prevented Strasburg from becoming the ace that many had projected.
Let’s take it a step further – Do you think Skenes can be as good as Roger Clemens?