Paul Skenes looks ready for the big leagues, following a six shutout inning performance for Indianapolis on Tuesday night. The 2023 first overall pick threw 75 pitches, allowing four hits, one walk, and striking out seven.
This was the first full stat line for Skenes, who had been limited in pitches and innings during his first five starts. It was also a very efficient outing for him, throwing 12.5 pitches per inning, after a lot of 20 pitch frames in his first starts of the year.
Skenes threw his four-seam 29 times, averaging 99.8 MPH with the pitch, and topping out at 101.0 MPH. The pitch led to four whiffs and four called strikes for a 28% called and swinging strike rate (CSW%). His slider led to four whiffs on 12 swings, and four more called strikes for a 38% CSW. The splinker that he’s added this year had a 38% CSW, with two whiffs and four called strikes on the 95 MPH sinker/splitter. He also threw six changeups, getting one whiff on one swing, and he mixed in one curveball, which got the final out of the third inning.
When Skenes finished his night, the score was tied 0-0. That changed in the bottom of the sixth, when Nick Gonzales homered, hitting his third of the season. Liover Peguero tripled in a run in the seventh, and Malcom Nunez knocked Peguero in with a single. With the score 3-0, Skenes was in line for the win.
Carmen Mlodzinski came on for the save in the ninth, but allowed a three run homer after giving up hits to his first three batters. He was also saved from another run scoring on a throw by right fielder Gilberto Celestino that got a runner at home with one out. The game remained tied until Yasmani Grandal led off the bottom of the 11th with a single, scoring Gonzales from second for the 4-3 win.
On the season, Skenes has video game numbers in Triple-A, with an 0.39 ERA in 23 innings, along with 41 strikeouts and an 0.87 WHIP. He’s scheduled for his next start on Sunday in Indianapolis, which would make this his first two-start week. Sunday would also be the first day he pitches on four days rest. If that goes well, I really don’t see what is holding him back. You can judge on the video below.
MLB's No. 1 pitching prospect Paul Skenes has been electric in 23 IP across 6 Triple-A starts this season:
41 K
0.39 ERA
0.87 WHIP
89 pitches 100+ mphMore on his latest gem: https://t.co/ofNXwd1btt pic.twitter.com/9mHYrS3i9x
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 1, 2024
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
INDIANAPOLIS won 4-3 in 11 innings, after Paul Skenes gave them six shutout frames.
- 2B-3B Nick Gonzales went 1-for-4 with his third home run of the season.
- SS Liover Peguero went 2-for-3 with a walk and a triple. He also stole his third base of the season.
- CF-2B Ji Hwan Bae went 0-for-3, but walked twice and stole a base.
- LHP Jose Hernandez pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout.
- RHP Brent Honeywell pitched a perfect inning by striking out the side in the 11th, getting the win.
ALTOONA lost 3-2.
- RHP Bubba Chandler pitched 4.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits. Chandler struck out four and walked one. His only run was a solo homer. The number three pitching prospect in the system threw 70 pitches, with 44 strikes.
- SS Tsung-Che Cheng went 1-for-4 with a two run homer in the seventh inning, giving Altoona both of their runs and a brief lead.
- 3B Kervin Pichardo went 1-for-4 with a double.
- CF Jase Bowen went 1-for-4.
- RHP Justin Meis allowed one run in 2.1 innings on five hits. He struck out five and walked one.
GREENSBORO won 9-2, thanks to five home runs in their hitter friendly park.
- RF Charles McAdoo had a game, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, a triple, and a walk. He knocked in five runs. McAdoo is now hitting .303/.397/.545 with four homers in 78 plate appearances in High-A. Those are similar to his debut numbers last year in Single-A, after being drafted in the 13th round out of San Jose State.
- LHP Hunter Barco pitched 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. The 2022 second rounder struck out six and walked two.
- CF Sammy Siani went 2-for-4 with a home run in the first inning to start the scoring.
- SS Mitch Jebb went 1-for-4 with his first home run of the season.
- C Shawn Ross went 1-for-3 with a home run.
- RHP Derek Diamond pitched three shutout frames, allowing three hits, no walks, and striking out two.
BRADENTON won 7-3, after three homers from the offense.
- RHP Carlos Jimenez pitched three shutout innings, allowing one hit, three walks, and striking out seven.
- 3B Garret Forrester went 3-for-3 with a home run and a walk. Forrester has a five game hitting streak, and has reached base safely in his last nine games.
- LF Shalin Polanco went 1-for-3 with a three run homer in the seventh inning.
- 2B Kalae Harrison went 1-for-3 with a home run.
- LHP Yoldin De La Paz pitched two perfect innings with one strikeout.
STATCAST HEROES
The home run from Nick Gonzales traveled 422 feet at 105.6 MPH. STATS
Carlos Jimenez had seven whiffs on 15 swings with his fastball, along with five whiffs on six swings against the slider. The fastball averaged 94.5 MPH, touching 97.2. STATS
TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE
- Triple-A: Indianapolis, 11:05 AM – LHP Eric Lauer (2-0, 2.37)
- Double-A: Altoona, 12:00 PM – RHP Sean Sullivan (0-3, 3.06)
- High-A: Greensboro, 11:00 AM – RHP Patrick Reilly (1-1, 4.32)
- Single-A: Bradenton, 6:30 PM – RHP Hung-Leng Chang (0-0, 0.71)
