Paul Skenes sets MLB record for most 7-plus strikeout outings in first 10 games

The Pittsburgh Pirates were lucky enough to land one of the most gifted pitching prospects the game of baseball has seen in quite some time in former LSU star Paul Skenes. And all he’s done is reward them for their belief in his undeniable talent. On Friday evening, Skenes threw more than seven strikeouts, giving him 7+ strikeouts in nine of his 10 career outings. That’s an MLB record for the most within a player’s first 10 career games.

Making History 👏

Paul’s 7+ strikeouts in 9 of 10 career outings, sets the Major League record for most within a player’s first 10 career games.@Paul_Skenes | #LSUMLB pic.twitter.com/w1JwhY854L

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) July 6, 2024

In seven innings of work, he threw eight strikeouts, allowing just four hits, two runs, and two walks. Through his 10 starts this year, Skenes has posted an impressive ERA of 2.12.

Meanwhile, the Pirates are absolutely obliterating the New York Mets on Friday night, winning 14-2 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Pittsburgh has blasted seven home runs, just the fifth time in franchise history that they’ve done so. It was so many that the Pirates scoreboard made the announcement the team ran out of fireworks.

As for Skenes, there is a whole lot of potential for the former LSU standout, who spent just one year with the Tigers after transferring in from Air Force. But what a year it was.

LSU captured a national championship with Paul Skenes as the ace on the staff, and he was every bit the part of an arm that could carry you to a championship.

Skenes was named the 2023 Dick Howser Trophy winner, the National Player of the Year by D1Baseball and Collegiate Baseball, a consensus first-team All-American and the College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

That came after he was a first-team All-American in both of his two years at Air Force.

In his college career, Paul Skenes went 24-6 as a starter and had a 2.18 ERA. He even saved 11 games, doing so as a freshman at Air Force. He struck out 335 batters in 235.0 innings pitched, while walking only 59.

Astoundingly, Skenes gave up only 14 home runs in his college pitching career, a remarkable feat.

He played his high school baseball at El Toro High (Lake Forest, California). As a junior, he earned first team all-league, all-county, all conference, and all-state honors. His senior year, he earned first team all-county honors.

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp also contributed to this article.