The 21-year-old pitching prospect lived up to the hype, showcasing his electric fastball and impressive poise in his first start for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The moment hardly looked too big for Paul Skenes. The top-ranked pitching prospect in baseball had a promising major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, working into the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs while offering a glimpse of what may be to come.
Skenes, 21, was charged with three runs in four-plus innings, but he also struck out seven batters, including three in the first inning. He threw 17 pitches of 100 mph or more, including a 101.9 mph fastball that was the fastest by a Pirates pitcher since Major League Baseball began tracking pitch speed in 2008.
"I was just trying to stay calm and collected," Skenes said. "I knew there would be a lot of adrenaline, but I just wanted to go out there and execute."
Skenes' outing was a long time coming. The right-hander was drafted first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 draft after a standout career at LSU, where he was the College World Series MVP in 2022. He breezed through seven starts at Triple-A Indianapolis this season, posting a 1.80 ERA and striking out 53 batters in 35 innings.
Skenes' debut was highly anticipated by Pirates fans, who packed PNC Park on Saturday. They were treated to a glimpse of the future, as Skenes showed off his impressive fastball and a developing changeup and slider.
"He's got a really good arm," Cubs manager David Ross said. "He's got a good fastball, and he's got a good changeup. He's going to be a good pitcher in this league."
Skenes' outing was not without its hiccups. He walked two batters and gave up a homer to Nico Hoerner in the fourth inning. But he also showed his resilience, working out of jams and keeping the Pirates in the game.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he was impressed with Skenes' poise and competitiveness.
"He's got a lot of confidence," Shelton said. "He's not afraid to challenge hitters, and he's got the stuff to do it."
Skenes' outing was a reminder of the bright future ahead for the Pirates. The team has struggled in recent years, but they have a number of talented young players, including Skenes, who could help them turn things around.
"I think we've got a lot of potential," Skenes said. "We've got a lot of young guys who are hungry to win. I think we're going to be a good team."
Skenes' next start is scheduled for Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates will be looking for him to build on his impressive debut and continue to show why he is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.
