Pittsburgh Pirates Top Pick Paul Skenes Debuts as Top 5 Prospect in MLB Pipeline

Former LSU ace Paul Skenes earned the largest signing bonus in MLB Draft history in July, and now he is rated as the No. 1 pitcher in the minors.

The midseason prospect rankings are out, and the Pittsburgh Pirates suddenly have the top-ranked hurler in baseball coming up through their farm system.

Right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes went No. 1 overall to the Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft, and he signed a record-breaking contract with the franchise in July. The Former Air Force and LSU ace has since made his minor league debut, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning in the Florida Coast League on Thursday.

MLB Pipeline released its updated Top 100 Prospects later Thursday. Not only did Skenes come in as the top prospect in the Pirates' system, but he also debuted at No. 1 pitcher and No. 3 overall prospect in baseball.

Skenes has officially debuted higher than any prospect since pitcher Stephen Strasburg appeared at No. 2 in 2010. Outfielder Bryce Harper also debuted at No. 3 back in 2011.

After starting his collegiate career at Air Force – where he went 10-4 with a 2.72 ERA, 1.148 WHIP, 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 3.23 strikeout-to-walk ratio – Skenes decided to transfer to LSU last offseason. Skenes finished his one and only season in Baton Rouge with a 12-2 record, a 1.69 ERA, 0.750 WHIP, 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings and a 10.45 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The 21-year-old was named National Player of the Year by D1 Baseball and Collegiate Baseball, and he was a consensus First Team All-American.

LSU won the 2023 Men's College World Series over Florida in June. Skenes made two starts in Omaha, going 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA, 0.57 WHIP and 21 strikeouts.

Skenes was the No. 1-ranked prospect heading into the draft, and he ultimately became the first pitcher to go No. 1 overall since Casey Mize went to the Detroit Tigers in 2018.

MLB.com is estimating that Skenes will reach the majors in 2024.

Outside of Skenes, the Pirates also have second baseman Termarr Johnson at No. 23, catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez at No. 42, right-handed pitcher Jared Jones at No. 75, left-handed pitcher Anthony Solometo at No. 90 and right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester and No. 99. Within their own system, Pittsburgh's biggest riser was third baseman Jared Triolo, who went from No. 18 to No. 11.

The Pirates now boast the No. 3 farm system in the league, according to MLB.com. The Baltimore Orioles rank No. 1, the Milwaukee Brewers rank No. 2 and the Washington Nationals rank No. 5.

Washington took Skenes' LSU teammate, outfielder Dylan Crews, No. 2 overall in this year's draft. The five-tool player debuted at No. 4 individually, joining Skenes by claiming a rare spot in the top-five.

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