Joey Votto Shares Which Former Top Pitching Prospect Paul Skenes Resembles

Patrick Andres | May 11, 2024

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

On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates welcomed a new era. Highly touted pitching prospect Paul Skenes made his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs—a mere 10 months after the Pirates drafted him out of LSU.

Almost immediately, Skenes proved himself box-office. The 21-year-old struck out Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki and designated hitter Mike Tauchman in a scoreless first, eventually racking up seven punchouts in the first four innings.

To longtime Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, Skenes resembles this century's greatest pitching prospect: former Washington Nationals hurler Stephen Strasburg.

"Watching Skenes reminds me of facing Strasburg after his call-up," Votto said. "I took a fastball in my first at-bat, looked up, and saw ‘100’ on the board. I thought, ‘Uh oh.’ The next pitch? The best curveball I’d ever seen—gulp."

Watching Skenes reminds me of facing Strasburg after his call-up. I took a fastball in my first at-bat, looked up, and saw ‘100’ on the board. I thought, ‘Uh oh.’ The next pitch? The best curveball I’d ever seen—gulp. Same could be said about the changeup later. I was like, 😕.…

— Joey Votto (@JoeyVotto) May 11, 2024

Votto—the eventual National League MVP—struck out looking in his first career at-bat against Strasburg on July 21, 2010, eventually finishing an 8-5 Reds loss 1-for-5. Strasburg's much-hyped '10 call-up wound up turning the Nationals' fortunes in the long run, and he retired with a 2019 World Series title under his belt.

"This beautiful game keeps moving (forward)," Votto said of Skenes's success in his debut.