Starting pitcher Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft, has been promoted to Double-A Altoona, the team announced Monday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Skenes has started two games for Single-A Bradenton, throwing three innings of one-hit ball with four strikeouts and no earned runs. He threw harder than 98 mph four times in his most recent outing on August 20.
- The 6-foot-6 right-hander signed with the Pirates for a record-setting $9.2 million bonus.
- He is expected to make his Altoona Curve debut Saturday against the Akron RubberDucks.
It’s happening.
Paul Skenes, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 draft, has been promoted to Altoona! He is expected to make his Curve debut on Saturday.
READ MORE » https://t.co/ljhumWrZGu pic.twitter.com/nICdyWBN5L
— Altoona Curve (@AltoonaCurve) August 21, 2023
Backstory
Skenes led LSU to the national championship this season. He had 164 strikeouts during the regular season, 40 more than any other pitcher in Division I.
Skenes’ LSU teammate, outfielder Dylan Crews, was taken No. 2 by the Washington Nationals in the 2023 MLB Draft. He was promoted this week to Double-A Harrisburg.
Required reading
(Photo: Charles LeClaire / USA Today)
