The Debut: Former LSU Star Paul Skenes Handles Business in MLB Debut With The Pirates

Skenes recorded seven strikeouts in his highly anticipated debut in Pittsburgh, handled business for his new club.

May 11, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Former LSU All-American pitcher Paul Skenes made his highly anticipated debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday afternoon after cruising through the minor leagues.

It was an MLB debut that generated unprecedented buzz with Skenes stealing headlines over the last few days.

After missing his flight, driving six hours to Pittsburgh and getting it done on the mound, Skenes ended the day with 4.0 IP, seven strikeouts, two walked batters and three earned runs.

The superstar recorded 17 pitches of over 100 MPH and tallied a strikeout on the first batter he faced.

Paul Skenes with an impressive afternoon in his MLB debut with the Pirates.

4 IP
6 H
3 ER
2 BB
7 K
84 pitches

17 pitches over 100 MPH (!)

Missed his flight, drove over 6 hours to Pittsburgh and shined in his highly anticipated debut.

Generated unprecedented buzz on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/QJbd8bH0PJ

— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) May 11, 2024

From there, he did what he does best: Impress with his incredible velocity while breaking down batters like a heavyweight boxer.

Skenes, the No. 1 overall selection by the Pirates in last summer’s MLB Draft, is the 84th Major Leaguer in the illustrious history of LSU Baseball.

The 21-year-old Skenes arrived in Pittsburgh after dominating Triple-A this season, allowing three earned runs in 27.1 innings and striking out 45 batters.

Skenes, a Lake Forest, Calif., native, led LSU to the 2023 College World Series title and was presented with the Dick Howser Trophy as the best player in NCAA Division I.

Skenes, who was also the 2023 D1 Baseball National Player of the Year and the SEC Pitcher of the Year, compiled a 13-2 record and a 1.69 ERA in 122.2 innings with 20 walks and an SEC-record 209 strikeouts. He finished No. 1 in the nation in strikeouts (209), strikeouts per nine innings (15.33) and WHIP (0.75).

He finished No. 2 in the nation in ERA (1.69), No. 3 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.45), and No. 5 in hits allowed per nine innings (5.28). He was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series, as he was 1-0 in two starts with a 1.15 ERA in 15.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with two walks and 21 strikeouts.

Skenes posted a win over Tennessee (June 17) in LSU’s opening game of the CWS, working 7.2 innings and allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and 12 strikeouts. He then faced Wake Forest in the CWS semifinal round (June 22) on just four days’ rest and limited the Deacons to no runs on two hits in 8.0 innings with one walk and nine strikeouts.

Skenes, a member of the 2023 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll, pledged $10 for every strikeout he recorded last season to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military and first responders who have died or been disabled.

He is the first LSU player coached by Jay Johnson to reach the big leagues since Johnson began his tenure in Baton Rouge in 2022. LSU has had at least one former player make his MLB debut in 30 of the past 34 seasons.

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