Since his promotion to the major leagues, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes has taken the league by storm. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft came out of LSU with incredibly high expectations.
Skenes was considered one of the best pitching prospects ever, with comparisons to Stephen Strasburg and Mark Prior for his polished skills entering professional baseball.
Despite the lofty expectations, Skenes has exceeded them. What he accomplished at the start of his professional career has never been achieved by another player in the history of baseball.
In nine starts, Paul Skenes has posted a 4-0 record with a 2.06 ERA. Over 52.1 innings, he has allowed only 44 hits and 10 walks, resulting in 12 earned runs. Opposing batters have struggled against him, as he has accumulated 70 strikeouts.
Covers on X shared a list of pitchers in MLB history who have struck out at least 70 batters while allowing 12 or fewer runs. The list consists solely of Paul Skenes.
The LSU product is already establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball. His advanced stats are off the charts, and he will be near or at the top of the league in several categories once he has pitched enough to qualify.
Paul Skenes isn’t just dominating weaker lineups; he’s finding success against all opponents. His splinker is currently the nastiest pitch in baseball, leaving hitters baffled at the plate.
The future looks bright for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as they have a stable of pitchers that will make any opponent nervous in a playoff series. If they can upgrade their offense and qualify for the playoffs, opponents will face a formidable challenge in a short series against Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Jared Jones.
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