Paul Skenes dominates in Minor League Baseball debut

Just a couple of months ago, Paul Skenes was in Omaha and was crowned a national champion. The goal Skenes set when transferring coming to LSU was completed. He played a huge part in the run as well, continually coming up in big spots for the Tigers — both in the regular season and postseason.

Now, Skenes is a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after being selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. Rookie ball was his first start but Tuesday marked the right-handed pitcher’s Minor League Baseball debut with the Bradenton Marauders, Pittsburgh’s A club.

Skenes dominated, even if it was only for an inning. He needed just 16 pitches to strike out two hitters but there was a hit allowed. The same incredible pitches we saw in Baton Rouge were present down in Florida, ranging from a fastball to a nasty sinker.

Rob Friedman, also known as Pitching Ninja on Twitter, put together a compilation of Skenes’ best pitches from the night. It’s quite a long video considering Skenes was only out there for an inning.

You can check out some of Skenes’ best stuff here.

Paul Skenes' Stuff from Tonight. pic.twitter.com/HzBaOD0tIn

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 16, 2023

Skenes was happy with his performance after the game. Of the 16 pitches he threw, 11 of them wound up being strikes. For just his second outing since leaving LSU, a positive result for the No. 1 overall pick.

“I feel like every pitch I threw today was with conviction, and for the most part, where I wanted it to be,” Skenes said. “Especially with the second outing back, that’s all I can ask for.”

The progression through the Minor League system could continue for Skenes. Heck, if you asked ESPN’s Kyle Peterson during the College World Series, he could see Skenes being a contributor to the Big League club right now.

“I’m going to be really interested in, whoever grabs him, how fast they put him in the big leagues,” Peterson said back in June. “This is a Major League starter, today. It’s not like your five guy. This is somebody you’re rolling out there and saying ‘okay, you get the big boys right now.’ It’s stuff you don’t see.”

However, with the Pirates not in contention to earn a playoff spot in the NL, Skenes is likely stuck in the Minors for the rest of 2023. But the momentum toward getting the call up is already beginning, with Bradenton being the latest stop.