The Pittsburgh Pirates Are Calling Up No. 1 Pick Paul Skenes

08/05/2024 22:58

Paul Skenes will make his highly anticipated MLB debut on Saturday.

The Pittsburgh Pirates wrote "5.11.24" in a social media post with a video featuring last year's No. 1 overall pick. It appears Skenes will start at PNC Park against the Chicago Cubs this weekend.

Pittsburgh drafted Skenes over Wyatt Langford and former LSU teammate Dylan Crews after he led the Tigers to a national championship as a junior with a 1.69 ERA and 209 strikeouts. The 6-foot-6 righty has continued to dominate hitters in the minor leagues.

In seven starts at Pittsburgh's Triple-A affiliate, Skenes has allowed four runs (three earned) with an absurd 45 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. He's allowed eight walks and just 17 hits with a heater that routinely sits at 100 mph.

Following four straight scoreless outings, Skenes had nothing left to prove in Triple-A. Beyond delaying the start of his service clock, the Pirates had little reason to keep him down any longer.

Skenes will join a Pirates rotation headlined by fellow star rookie Jared Jones. Pittsburgh fell to 17-21 following Wednesday afternoon's 5-4 loss to Los Angeles Angeles, but those two rookie hurlers are part of a promising young core offering hope of a turnaround.

However, Skenes will likely begin his MLB career with limitations. He's only pitched five or more innings in one appearance this year.

Skenes' debut may represent the most hyped pitching arrival since Stephen Strasburg joined the Washington Nationals in 2010. Much like the phenom drafted first 15 years ago, health may be the only thing that can stop Skenes from blossoming into an ace.

Saturday's game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET.