The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 9-3, improving to 3-0 on the young season. Saturday’s action was highlighted by the debuts from Jared Jones in the majors, and Paul Skenes in Triple-A, giving a look at the bright future which is arriving this year.
Jones was making his Major League debut, and had one for the ages. The 2020 second round pick went 5.2 innings, allowing three runs, and striking out ten. He had 22 whiffs on the day, which was the highest total of the day in all of baseball.
Last year, the single-game high for the Pirates was 18 whiffs. That was reached three times from Johan Oviedo, plus once each by Mitch Keller and Vince Velasquez. There were six double-digit strikeout performances last year — three from Keller, two from Oviedo, and one from Velasquez.
The start from Jones was one of the most dominant pitching performances the Pirates have seen over the last few years. According to Alex Stumpf, the 22 whiffs were the most for any pitcher in their MLB debut since 2009. According to MLB Pipeline, he’s the 31st pitcher in AL/NL history and fourth in Pirates franchise history to strike out ten in his debut. The last Pirates starter to accomplish this was Tim Wakefield on July 31, 1992.
It’s been a long time since the Pirates have seen this kind of promise out of a young pitcher. Jones was helped by consistent offense throughout the game.
The Pirates had five doubles, with Connor Joe hitting two, and one each from Michael A. Taylor, Jared Triolo, and Bryan Reynolds. All four of those players picked up multiple hits, joined by Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz. The Pirates offense had 16 hits and four walks on the day, going 7-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Ryan Borucki (0.2 IP), Hunter Stratton (0.2), Jose Hernandez (1.0), and David Bednar (1.0) closed out the game with no runs, two hits, and three strikeouts combined.
The debut from Jones was promising, but that wasn’t the only pitching performance of the day that provided promise for the Pirates’ future…
PROSPECT WATCH
Paul Skenes was perfect in his first start of the year with Indianapolis. The top pitching prospect in the game went three innings, with no hits or walks allowed, and five strikeouts.
The fastball from Skenes sat 99-101 MPH, averaging 100, with 12 pitches at triple-digits. His slider averaged 87.5. Between the fastball and slider, Skenes generated nine whiffs. He also threw his new splinker nine times, averaging 95.3 MPH, with two whiffs and three called strikes on the pitch. He threw three curveballs, averaging 83.9 MPH, and two changeups around 87.8 MPH.
In total, Skenes threw 46 pitches, with 29 strikes. He had 13 whiffs in 24 swings (54.2%). The debut was limited, as the Pirates slowly build Skenes up on the pro schedule. If he’s pitching like this once he gets to 5+ innings, it will be difficult to keep him down in the minors.
The Indians went to Eric Lauer in the fourth. The veteran lefty pitched a scoreless frame, then gave up three runs in the fifth inning. Indianapolis came back later in the game, after Liover Peguero knocked in two batters with a double. He scored one batter later to tie the game on a Jake Lamb double.
Brent Honeywell pitched 1.1 shutout innings, and Colin Selby added a shutout inning. Indianapolis lost in the bottom of the ninth on a walk-off homer off Brady Feigl.
Nick Gonzales, Billy McKinney, Peguero, and Lamb all picked up multiple hits at the top of the Indianapolis lineup. The rest of the lineup went 1-for-19 with two walks, with Gilberto Celestino getting the hit and both walks.
STATCAST HEROES
Jared Jones had as many whiffs as all of the Marlins pitchers combined. STATS
Paul Skenes had 12 whiffs, and all five of those fastest pitches went for strikes, with two of them resulting in strikeouts. STATS
DAILY VIDEO RUNDOWN
Jared Jones picked up ten strikeouts in his debut. Credit to Henry Davis for some outstanding frame work, stealing at least two of these strike three pitches.
Welcome to The Show, Jared Jones!
Pittsburgh's No. 3 prospect (MLB No. 60) becomes the 31st pitcher in AL/NL history and fourth in @Pirates franchise history (first since Tim Wakefield) to rack up 10 strikeouts in his MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/nqmR3NmHG5
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 30, 2024
The Pirates faced a lefty for the third day in a row. Edward Olivares picked up a clutch hit for the third day in a row. This time, he put the Pirates on the board in the third inning.
Olivares calentando motores!!💥💥 pic.twitter.com/GbQr4UQTgB
— Los Piratas (@piratasbeisbol) March 30, 2024
Connor Joe has been hitting well in these lefty-pitched games. Joe went 3-for-5 today with three runs and two RBIs. He hit two doubles, including this one in the fourth to give the Pirates a second run.
Connor Joe stays hitting. pic.twitter.com/D1bkGGm2Aa
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 30, 2024
Here are those strikeout pitches from Paul Skenes.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
4 strikeouts in 2 perfect innings for @Pirates' Paul Skenes in his @indyindians debut
Fastball velos:
99.7
100.0
100.4
100.8
99.2
100.5
99.3
99.4
100.3
100.3
100.5 pic.twitter.com/wueJnD7Myd— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 30, 2024
Liover Peguero went 2-for-5, and plated two runs with this double, traveling 106.2 MPH off the bat.
Peggy pulls it into the corner, and we're tied at 3. 👊 pic.twitter.com/PxRskDxbyt
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) March 30, 2024
TODAY: PIRATES (3-0) AT MARLINS (0-3)
Game Time: 1:40 PM EDT
Watch: SportsNet-PIT
Listen: KDKA-FM 93.7
Pirates Starter: Bailey Falter, LHP (0-0, 0.00)
Marlins Starter: Trevor Rogers, LHP (0-0, 0.00)
PIRATES PROSPECTS DAILY
In the Saturday Sleepers series, I looked at why Omar Alfonzo is a catching prospect to follow in the lower levels.
Saturday Sleepers: Omar Alfonzo is a Catching Prospect to Follow
A new First Pitch hits the site at noon on Sunday, looking at the progress of the Pirates’ build.
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THIS WEEK ON PIRATES PROSPECTS
**Paul Skenes Predicts the Pirates Will Be Winning For a Long Time
The 2023 first overall pick, number one pitching prospect in the game, and number one prospect in the Pirates’ system is expected to arrive in Pittsburgh this summer. Paul Skenes notes that he’s only one man, and feels the Pirates have enough talent to win for a long time.
**Jared Jones Forces the Pirates Hand (FREE until noon, 3/31)
After an impressive Spring Training, Jared Jones has made the Pirates’ Opening Day rotation. This was far from a guarantee at the start of camp, but the performance from Jones and the development of his secondary stuff was enough to force the Pirates to make a decision.
**Termarr Johnson Just Wants to Win, Including One Day in Pittsburgh
The Pirates drafted Termarr Johnson fourth overall in 2022, and the 19-year-old infielder has shown advanced contact abilities, plate patience, and surprising power. He also has a competitive drive, wanting to win everywhere he goes, including one day in Pittsburgh.
**Bubba Chandler Shows Advanced Maturity Entering Third Pro Season – FREE for 24 hours, starting 3/31 at 12:00 PM EST
After a break to reset in the middle of 2023, Bubba Chandler had some of the best numbers in the Pittsburgh Pirates system in the second half. The right-handed pitcher continues to progress this spring, working on his changeup while bringing a mature approach to his game.
Tsung-Che Cheng is no stranger to international competition and playing in front of large crowds. He also has some of the best contact skills in the Pirates’ system, and walks to the plate playing “Fast Car” by Luke Combs. Read about the man nicknamed “Z”.
**Lonnie White Jr. Shows a Competitive Drive and Quick Learning Ability
Lonnie White Jr. was drafted 64th overall in 2021, signing with the Pirates rather than going to Penn State as a two-sport athlete. Injuries slowed the start of his career, but he returned in 2023, with some of the best numbers in the system during the second half.
SONG OF THE DAY
Eminem crushes all of his live performances, but this was one of my favorites.
