Paul Skenes Called Up by Pirates; MLB's No. 3 Prospect Will Make Debut vs. Cubs

Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB draft, is going to make his big-league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.

The Pirates announced Wednesday that they are calling up the right-handed pitcher to start against the Chicago Cubs.

MLB.com ranked Skenes as the No. 3 overall prospect coming into the 2024 season. He was the highest-ranked prospect still in the minors because Jackson Chourio (No. 2) started the year with the Milwaukee Brewers and Jackson Holliday (No. 1) was called up by the Baltimore Orioles on April 10.

Holliday has since been sent back down to the minors on April 26 after going 2-for-34 in 10 games.

Skenes was selected first overall last year after a dominant season at LSU. He won the Dick Howser Trophy given to the nation's best player, was named SEC Pitcher of the Year and College World Series Most Outstanding Player in 2023.

The 21-year-old finished his junior year with a 1.69 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 122.2 innings over 19 starts for the Tigers. He only played one season at LSU after transferring from Air Force.

The Pirates made Skenes the first pitcher to be taken with the top pick in the draft since Casey Mize went to the Detroit Tigers in 2018. He was always considered someone who could breeze through the minors quickly, but the team informed him early in spring training he wouldn't start this season in the big leagues.

Here's what general manager Ben Cherington told reporters on March 5 about Skenes' development plan:

"He has not had the benefit of the full Minor League season. We're also trying to put him in a position where he has the best chance possible to help us win games in Pittsburgh as soon as possible. We just think a little bit more time in Major League Spring Training around our staff, players, the catching group, the game-planning process, kind of everything about it, hopefully can speed that up just a little bit more. And then that'll play into how we get the season started and what the volume progression looks like going into the season."

The Pirates, like every other team with top pitching prospects, carefully managed Skenes' innings in the minors. He didn't throw more than 3.1 innings in each of his first three starts at Triple-A.

Skenes' results in those limited outings looked great with no runs, four hits allowed and 19 strikeouts in 9.1 innings.

Pittsburgh finally started to loosen the reins on Skenes starting with his April 24 start against Omaha. He allowed his first run of the season in that game, but also struck out seven in 4.1 innings.

Skenes' threw a career-high six innings and had seven strikeouts on April 30 in Indianapolis' 4-3 win over Buffalo.

The upside for Skenes is astronomical with a fastball that touches 102 mph, a wipeout slider and a solid changeup. He's a terrific athlete with a 6'6" frame and commands all of his pitches very well.

It shouldn't take long for Skenes to establish himself as the best pitcher on the Pirates' staff.