The Pittsburgh Pirates announced yesterday that they have placed right handed pitcher Paul Skenes on the Development List, meaning the first overall pick from the 2023 MLB Draft will not pitch again the rest of this season. 

Skenes pitched a total of 122.2 innings for LSU during the 2023 college season. Over those 19 starts, he recorded just a 1.69 ERA, going 12-2 overall while recording over 200 strikeouts. 

After his draft day with the Pirates, Pittsburgh opted to use him somewhat sparingly, given how many innings his arm had already pitched in the year. 

Skenes made his professional debut in the Florida Complex League last month, pitching just a single inning to get him warmed up for a professional career. 

After that, the Pirates bumped him up to Single-A, where he spent a brief time with the Pirates’ affiliate, the Bradenton Marauders. Skenes made two starts for the Marauders, pitching a grand total of 3.0 innings, striking out 4 in another move to get him warmed up to professional life. 

Most recently, Skenes was brought up to Double-A Altoona, where with the Curve, his time there was not ideal. 

In his Double-A debut, Skenes recorded just two outs, while allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and walking a pair of batters as well. 

Skenes was set to face off against Dylan Crews in just a few days, but those plans have since been dashed.

Crews was the widely believed first overall pick, but out of fear he wouldn’t sign with the Pirates, Pittsburgh opted for Skenes instead. Crews, the second overall pick by the Washington Nationals, was a teammate of Skenes at LSU.

At the time of the announcement, some speculated that perhaps Skenes had suffered some sort of injury ahead of his next start, prompting the Pirates to shut him down entirely. 

The Pirates have not hinted at Skenes having any type of injury, instead stating that he had “checked all the boxes [they] aimed for him to check,” allowing him to focus on a full offseason in preparation for a busy 2024. 

Skenes is widely predicted to make his Major League Baseball debut at some point during the 2024 season, joining a Pirates rotation that, as of now, is a complete mess. 

The 21 year old is highly anticipated for what he can bring to the MLB roster when his time comes. He has a lot of experience with winning, something the Pirates desperately need. 

Skenes led LSU to a College World Series championship, as well as being named National Pitcher Of The Year and National Player Of The Year. 

Skenes is expected to start 2024 in Double-A with Altoona, but it probably won’t be long before he is fast tracked to Triple-A Indianapolis, and eventually up in the majors in Pittsburgh.

(Featured photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)