Essentially the most anticipated pitching prospect of his technology made his huge league in opposition to the Cubs at PNC Park on Saturday afternoon. Right here is all the data about his debut.
What quantity will Skenes put on?
Skenes will put on No. 30. He wore 20 with LSU final 12 months, however the Pirates retired that quantity in 1972 for Pie Traynor.
Skenes was born Could 29, 2002. He’ll turn into simply the third Pirates pitcher to begin a sport earlier than his twenty second birthday within the Wild Card period (since 1995), becoming a member of Roansy Contreras (Sept. 29, 2021) and Sean Burnett (Could 30, 2004).
Why is Skenes such a giant deal?
It’s not each day {that a} pitcher like this comes alongside. Solely a handful of pitchers can contact the 102 mph Skenes can ramp as much as, and it’s nearly remarkable for a starter to persistently sit within the triple digits along with his fastball. That’s solely a fraction of what he can do on the mound, too. He includes a full five-pitch arsenal and may get whiffs with all of them.
To borrow the phrases of longtime pitching coach and Pirates particular advisor on pitching improvement Dewey Robinson, “He’s one in a decade.”
How lengthy will Skenes pitch in his debut?
Whereas the Pirates nearly actually received’t tip their hand earlier than the sport, Skenes has maxed out at 75 pitches over six innings in a begin on April 30. The Bucs have been very conscious of his work utilization and build-up for his first full season, which is a significant cause why he’s debuting simply now.
He’s going to be on 5 days’ relaxation, so the leash could also be a bit longer, but it surely’s laborious to ascertain him throwing over 100 pitches or going eight or extra innings. A safer projection could be 80-something pitches over six frames, assuming all goes fairly effectively.
What can we anticipate from Skenes?
The quick reply is a few huge stuff, together with a triple-digit fastball, a wipeout slider, a curveball and changeup which have developed in Triple-A, plus a brand new providing, the “splinker” (a splitter-sinker).
“At 6-foot-6 and 235 kilos, Skenes brings an imposing presence to the mound. A former catcher, he’s athletic on the hill, repeating his supply effectively and filling the strike zone exceedingly effectively, particularly given his premium stuff. He has all of the makings of a frontline starter, one who shouldn’t take very lengthy to make his presence felt in Pittsburgh.”
Will Skenes slot proper into the rotation and pitch each fifth day?
That’s the plan and what the Pirates have been constructing in direction of. There’s a very good argument to be made that Skenes was Main League-ready stuff-wise as quickly as he was drafted, however the faculty sport may be very totally different than the skilled sport in that pitchers begin as soon as per week fairly than each 5 days. That’s been one of many important areas the Bucs have tried to ease him into in his temporary time in professional ball, and he pitched on 4 days’ relaxation for the primary time Sunday with out situation.
“It’s simply checking off one other field within the strategy of what we really feel he must be able to do to pitch within the huge leagues,” mentioned supervisor Derek Shelton.
Who’s Skenes’ participant comparability?
The obvious comparability is Stephen Strasburg. There hasn’t been a pitching debut this hyped since Strasburg broke by means of with the Nationals in 2010. There’s a case to be made that Skenes can actually be in comparison with any of the highest pitching prospects within the sport’s historical past, too.
Skenes was born in Fullerton, Calif., and attended El Toro Excessive Faculty in Lake Forest, Calif. Earlier than being drafted by the Pirates, Skenes spent the primary two years of his collegiate profession with the Air Drive Academy earlier than transferring to LSU forward of his junior 12 months.
How did the Pirates purchase him?
The Pirates took Skenes first total within the 2023 MLB Draft, a product of them successful the inaugural Draft lottery. It’s protected to say there aren’t many complaints concerning the new Draft system from Pittsburgh.