Paul Skenes made what should be his final start in Triple-A on Sunday. The top pitching prospect in baseball allowed two runs on three hits in 4.1 innings, walking two and striking out four.
In seven starts this year, Skenes has an 0.99 ERA in 27.1 innings, with a 45:8 K/BB ratio. He routinely overpowers hitters with a triple-digit fastball, a sharp slider, and a splinker that has turned into a third out pitch. Skenes also has a changeup that generates a high amount of whiffs as his fourth pitch, along with a curveball he can throw for strikes.
On Sunday, Skenes whiffed ten on 30 swings. He went 4-for-15 on the fastball, 2-for-6 on the slider, 3-for-8 on the splinker, and 1-for-1 on the changeup. Skenes threw the four-seam and slider for strikes, while getting chase swings on the splinker.
His outing included a home run on an unfortunate turn of events. Skenes challenged a ball four call on a 3-1 count, wiping out what would have been his third walk of the day. The call was overturned for a strike, leading to a full count. The next pitch was hit to center field, just clearing the wall for a home run. Skenes got one more out following the homer, before being pulled at 66 pitches.
The Pirates haven’t announced whether Skenes will make his next start in Triple-A, or get the call to the majors. He hasn’t looked challenged in Triple-A, and has the best stuff in the system, including Jared Jones. Having Skenes and Jones on the same team will give the Pirates a further boost on the pitching side, which is surprisingly the strength of their team.
PIRATES PROSPECT WATCH
INDIANAPOLIS won 8-3 in a game started by Paul Skenes.
- SS Nick Gonzales went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a walk.
- 1B Jake Lamb went 2-for-3 with a walk.
- RF Dustin Peterson went 3-for-4.
- DH Malcom Nunez went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- 2B Liover Peguero went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
ALTOONA won 6-2.
- LHP Anthony Solometo pitched three shutout innings, allowing three hits, three walks, and striking out five.
- RHP Bubba Chandler pitched the final three innings of the game, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk, while striking out three.
- SS Tsung-Che Cheng went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
- 1B Aaron Shackelford went 3-for-4 with a homer, a triple, and two RBIs.
- C Dylan Shockley went 2-for-3.
GREENSBORO won 15-5.
- LHP Hunter Barco got the start, throwing three shutout innings, with two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.
- LF Hudson Head went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. He also stole a base.
- 3B Charles McAdoo went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and three RBIs.
- 1B Josiah Sightler went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs.
- SS Jack Brannigan went 1-for-4 with a triple, two walks, three runs, and a steal of home on a double steal where Termarr Johnson took second.
BRADENTON won 5-4.
- RHP Khristian Curtis pitched 4.2 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits. He struck out six and walked two.
- RF Shalin Polanco went 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs.
- 1B Eddy Rodriguez went 1-for-4.
- C Garret Forrester went 1-for-1 with three walks.
- RHP Carlos Jimenez pitched a scoreless inning in relief, allowing two hits, no walks, and striking out two.
STATCAST HEROES
Nick Gonzales hit a double in the first inning that traveled 324 feet at 108.1 MPH. His second double came in the fourth inning, traveling 397 feet with a one-hop over the wall, and exiting at 103.1 MPH. STATS
Khristian Curtis whiffed 16 for Bradenton, led by seven whiffs on 16 swings against his fastball, and six whiffs on 13 swings against his cutter. He also had one whiff each on his slider, sinker, and changeup. STATS
TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE
- The full-season teams are off on Monday.
- Rookie: FCL Pirates 12:00 PM – TBD
