After dominating in the minors, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB draft is headed to The Show. Here's why Pittsburgh decided to unleash him now.
'I have no idea why that has to be a fastball': How a new pitching philosophy is keeping the Red Sox afloatTim Kurkjian breaks down why he believes Paul Skenes is ready to move up to the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates. considered how to unleash the best pitching prospect in a generation on the baseball world, they landed on a plan with which they felt entirely comfortable and positively uncomfortable.
If we judge Skenes' success on outcome over process, all has gone according to plan. Skenes has been everything he's supposed to be: 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds of dominance, with an average fastball of 100 mph and four other pitches with which he befuddles hitters. Less than a year out from a College World Series appearance, he has a 0.99 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 27.1 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis this season.
"He knew what he needed to do, but he didn't know how. He was hunting the how," Johnson said."We got in there, and from his diet to learning a slider, we helped him figure that out." At one point during the season that would end with Skenes winning the College World Series' Most Outstanding Player for the national champion Tigers, he asked to meet with Johnson to assess his progress. During the conversation, Johnson said, Skenes seemed to finally realize what would soon become clear to anyone watching him.
"It sounds so simple, but it's very hard for people to do that. And we see some of that in Paul. Different players, different personalities, different people. But that relationship with the feedback he's getting about what his pitches are doing, what his delivery is doing, this is the target of where they want it to be. Those adjustments happen quickly."
"We took him 1-1. We really, really think highly of him," Cherington said."We're placing a very strong bet on him and have believed since the day we drafted him that he's going to be a really good major league starting pitcher. But pitching is hard to predict a week from now, let alone a year from now."From just three A's to one unlikely F, we break down whether your team is acing -- or flunking -- the early part of 2024.
"I really don't believe it's played any role in this case. I really mean this," Cherington said."We decided in spring training that ... we wanted to build the volume more slowly than an established major league starter would. Once we made that decision, functionally, it has to start in the minor leagues."
"The great ones have this ability to stretch their mind to these uncomfortable levels," Johnson said."That's why they don't give away at-bats. That's how they don't take pitches off. Paul already has that side of him. The Pirates knew what they were getting with the talent and body and raw numbers. But he's so advanced on that kind of stuff.
"He knows where he is going," Honeywell said."He knows where he is headed. He knows what his job's supposed to be. He goes about his business the right way. The kid just wants to pitch. And I think the kid was made to pitch."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
MLB Insider Expects Pittsburgh Pirates Prospect Paul Skenes to Make MLB Debut in MayPaul Skenes may be making another minor league start Sunday, but the Pittsburgh Pirates' top pitching prospect could get called up to the big leagues very soon.
Read more »
Pirates to call up Paul Skenes for MLB debut vs. CubsThe Pirates are calling up star prospect Paul Skenes, and the hard-throwing right-hander is expected to debut Saturday at PNC Park against the Cubs.
Read more »
When will Pirates' top prospect Paul Skenes debut in MLB?With 2023 MLB No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes dominating Triple-A, should the Pittsburgh Pirates call him up to bolster their pitching depth?
Read more »
MLB's Top Pitching Prospect Paul Skenes Grew Up Massive Angels FanTop MLB pitching prospect Paul Skenes grew up a Los Angeles fan before getting drafted by Pittsburgh Pirates.
Read more »
Paul Skenes Is Dominating in the Minor LeaguesThe Pittsburgh Pirates prospect has not allowed a run and has a ridiculous strikeout rate.
Read more »
Pirates are calling up top pitching prospect Paul Skenes for his major league debutThe Paul Skenes era is ready to begin in Pittsburgh.
Read more »