PITTSBURGH (WJAC) — Pittsburgh Pirates' top pitching prospect Paul Skenes is expected to begin the 2024 regular season in the minor leagues, the team announced Tuesday.
He has not had the benefit of the full Minor League season,” GM Ben Cherington said. “We’re also trying to put him in a position where he has the best chance possible to help us win games in Pittsburgh as soon as possible. We just think a little bit more time in Major League Spring Training around our staff, players, the catching group, the game-planning process, kind of everything about it, hopefully can speed that up just a little bit more. And then that’ll play into how we get the season started and what the volume progression looks like going into the season.Skenes was drafted by Pittsburgh last year as the number one overall pick in the MLB amateur draft, just weeks after he helped guide the LSU Tigers to a collegiate National Championship.
By mid-August, Skenes was promoted to the Pirates' Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve.
He then made his Curve debut in late August before being "shut down" for the season in early September.
Skenes is expected to begin the 2024 season either in Altoona or in Indianapolis with the team's Triple-A affiliate.
He has appeared in two games so far for the Pirates during Spring Training, allowing just one run, on three hits, in three combined innings of work.
“I’ve thrown 6 2/3 innings in pro ball,” Skenes said. “It’s just kind of how it goes. [Cherington] said it would be unprecedented if I started the year in the big leagues. That’s kind of how it goes. Not that I don’t think I can do it, but I understand it.”
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