re: Cubs (Steele) vs Pirates (Skenes) 3:05 Game Thread

Paul Skenes notches first major league strikeout on 101 mph fastball

by:Wade Peery•about 3 hours

On3 image (Photo: USA Today)
Former LSU star pitcher Paul Skenesfinally got the call up to the major leagues on Saturday to perform for the Pittsburgh Pirates. And he didn’t disappoint. He checked in with some serious smoke from the jump, striking out his first batter on a fastball that was clocked at 101 miles per hour.


The former top overall pick in the draft threw 10 fastballs in the first inning alone, with the slowest clocking in at 99.8 miles per hour.

With his first four batters, Skenes struck out the second batter with an offspeed pitch. He walked the third batter he faced, and then forced the fourth batter to hit a long fly ball that was caught by the Pirates outfielders.


Skenes, who was the No. 1 overall MLB Draft pick in 2023, has thoroughly impressed in the minor leagues. He threw for three different teams in 2023 and put together a 5.40 ERA after making five starts. However, he would significantly improve in 2024 as he got more comfortable.

The talented flamethrower has played in 12 games for the Pirates in the minor leagues, allowing a batting average of .179, with an ERA of 1.85, while throwing 55 strikeouts. Those impressive numbers got him the call-up from the franchise.