By: Tobey Schulman
Paul Skenes MLB Debut
MLBPipeline’s No. 3 overall prospect and Pittsburgh Pirates first overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft Paul Skenes, was set to make his debut in an afternoon matchup against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. In what was undoubtedly the most anticipated debut from a pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg in 2010, Skenes flashed his incredible velocity and pitch mix. Despite troubles with his control, he exited the start receiving a standing ovation from the Pittsburgh crowd.
What was set to be a brisk and rainy day at PNC Park saw the sun come out in what was only fitting as Paul Skenes took the mound for the first time as a major league pitcher. Skenes displayed his incredible 101+ MPH fastball right away striking out Mike Tauchman and Seiya Suzuki for his first two MLB batters faced.
Skenes would work a scoreless first frame, but appeared to be struggling to locate his pitches. While some may choose to overreact, the struggles can most likely be more attributed to nerves than anything else. No matter who you are, playing in your MLB debut understandably brings about nerves, let alone that debut being arguably the most anticipated one by a pitcher ever.
Skenes second inning of work saw him get into his first bases loaded jam, after a hit-by-pitch, a walk, and a single. Skenes would strike out Yan Gomes and eventually work his way out of the jam with no damage. He’d pick up his fourth strikeout, sending Seiya Suziki back to the dugout for the second time on strikes.
In what was his last full inning of work, Skenes would go on to strike out the side. He struck out Ian Happ, Michael Busch, and Yan Gomes again to put his strikeout total at seven. After he allowed two baserunners in the fifth, the Pirates turned to the bullpen with a 6-1 lead, which would later be given up in that inning before a rain delay.
Skenes’ final stat-line for his debut turned in with 4.0 innings pitched, allowing six hits, three earned runs, two walks, while striking out seven. While on paper it may not look like the most impressive start, that’s far from the case with Skenes debut.
Once given a longer leash on his pitch count, he will most likely be expected to get out of the jams the Pirates relievers couldn’t. His velocity combined with his strikeout total today is something that should excite Pirates fans for the foreseeable future.
With better control Skenes will only become more dominant. If he can stay healthy and avoid the injury plague that seems to befall the pitchers who throw the hardest in the league, he will have a bright future in Pittsburgh.