Pittsburgh Pirates' Top Prospect Left Fans in Awe During Start on Friday

Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft last season, is currently at Triple-A for for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Making his second start of the year on Friday, he left fans in awe, registering 13 pitches at greater than 100 mph.

Mar 3, 2024; North Port, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch in / Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Pirates' top prospect Paul Skenes left baseball fans in awe on Friday night because of his start for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Skenes, who was the No. 1 pick in the draft just last season, is knocking on the door of getting to the Majors. He's the No. 3 prospect in baseball this season behind only Jackson Holliday and Jackson Chourio and is the best homegrown prospect for the PIrates since Gerrit Cole.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, who had more on Skenes's start:

PAUL SKENES

3 IP
1 H
6 K — at 100.7 mph, 100.5 mph, 100.4 mph, 100.2 mph, 100.0 mph & 99.7 mph

44 pitches, 13 at 100.0+ mph
99.9 mph avg 4sm velo

PAUL SKENES

3 IP
1 H
6 K — at 100.7 mph, 100.5 mph, 100.4 mph, 100.2 mph, 100.0 mph & 99.7 mph

44 pitches, 13 at 100.0+ mph
99.9 mph avg 4sm velo

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 6, 2024

Given that Skenes is the future of the organization, the Pirates are clearly handling him with kid gloves in the early going. Because he is likely to debut at somepoint this season as well, they may be trying to save his innings for the Major League level later in the year.

Skenes, in addition to being a No. 1 overall pick last year, helped LSU win the College World Series title.

Here's a portion of his MLB.com prospect profile:

At 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Skenes brings an imposing presence to the mound. A former catcher, he’s athletic on the hill, repeating his delivery well and filling the strike zone exceedingly well, especially given his premium stuff. He has all the makings of a frontline starter, one who should not take very long to make his presence felt in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates are currently 6-2 on the season and will take on the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. ET.

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