Paul Skenes, the highly anticipated pitching prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates, made his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs. Skenes delivered an impressive performance, striking out seven batters over four innings while allowing three earned runs (3 ER), six hits (6 H), and two walks (2 BB). His fastball reached speeds up to 102 mph, and he also showcased a 95mph splinker. The game was highlighted by Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz hitting back-to-back home runs, giving the Pirates a 4-0 lead in the third inning. Skenes' debut was part of a significant day in baseball, drawing comparisons to the debut of Stephen Strasburg and featuring Andrew McCutchen as the leadoff hitter, mirroring his role during Strasburg's debut.
Paul Skenes makes MLB debut: Four things to know as Pirates' flame-throwing phenom strikes out seven vs. Cubs https://t.co/XpBAQ5QrKs
Stephen Strasburg, Gerrit Cole, and now Paul Skenes. Andrew McCutchen has been a part of some major debuts throughout his career! https://t.co/cIpaNXFvov
OK, so let's recap... ➡️Paul Skenes threw 74 pitches in four innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven. ➡️ Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz hit back-to-back homers to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead. Michael A. Taylor built that lead to 6-1 an inning later with a two-run…
Every pitch from Paul Skenes' MLB debut. #Pirates 4+ IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K https://t.co/kEDehq8lVT
Paul Skenes has left the building .., threw pro career high 84 pitches and lasted until the 5th, struck out 7, walked 2, allowed 6 hits, 1 HR and 3 runs.
Paul Skenes’ final line in his debut: 4 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 84 P https://t.co/pkx8oUGhuB
That's it for Skenes. Shelton comes to get him with two outs and none on in the top of the fifth inning. 84 pitches, 54 strikes. He struck out seven and threw 17 pitches over 100 mph.
Paul Skenes, 100mph Fastball and 95mph Splinker, Overlay https://t.co/zbl7F1FkkF
Fans cheer Paul Skenes, as he jogs out for the fifth inning. He's at 74 pitches. High as a pro is 75.
Paul Skenes’ splinker is nasty. It’s one thing to average 100 mph with a four-seamer. To pair that with a 95-mph hybrid with crazy vertical movement is borderline unfair. And Skenes uses it both as a strikeout pitch and to steal strikes early in the count.
Paul Skenes, Filthy 95mph Splinker. 😷 7th K https://t.co/3qiTrR6AMi
Skenes allows one run but nothing more. He's up to seven strikeouts. Pitch count is at 76, which is the highest ever as a pro. Interested to see if they bring him back out for the fifth.
Max Fried, Dirty 86mph Slider. 😨 https://t.co/ghvMQJu2Pc
Connor Joe and Oneil Cruz go back-to-back and PNC is rocking on Paul Skenes’ debut day 🏴☠️ (via @MLB) https://t.co/yU2zJ3mCtX
Oneil Cruz hitting 427-foot homers. Paul Skenes on the mound. PITTSBURGH! (🎥 @MLB) https://t.co/8RVeJRXwD7
ONeil Cruz HR put Pirates and Paul up 4-0 on solo HR on a line drive over CF.
Oneil Cruz makes it back-to-back homers for the @Pirates! https://t.co/uqrG6n2XwU
Connor Joe just gave Paul Skenes a 3-0 lead in the third with a three-run HR. And Pirates then made it 4-0.
Connor Joe with a three run blast. Oneil Cruz goes back-to-back with a solo shot and the Pittsburgh Pirates are up 4-0 in the third on Skenes Day. That qualifies as an offensive EXPLOSION for the Pirates who haven't scored more than 5 runs since APRIL 14th!!
Through 3 innings in Pittsburgh, Paul Skenes has thrown 51 pitches with 31 strikes, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, 2 hits, 0 runs. It’s Pirates 0, Cubs 0.
In the 3rd inning, Paul Skenes has 4 strikeouts through 40-plus pitches with 2 walks, hit batsman and 2 hits allowed.
Love having Andrew McCutchen in the lineup for both Paul Skenes and Stephen Strasburg's debut.
This is awesome. Andrew McCutchen was the Pirates leadoff hitter when Stephen Strasburg made his Major League Debut. Fast forward 14 years, and McCutchen is leading off for Paul Skenes’ debut. (Via: @MarkZuckerman) https://t.co/kHGLPo5kGp
40 pitches for Skenes through just two innings. He only needs 35 more to match his career high as a pro.
Paul Skenes has Pittsburgh jumping! 🔥 (Via: @MLB) https://t.co/tI0eJrJE6X
Paul Skenes, Wicked 84mph Slider. 🤢 15 inches of Break. https://t.co/DMrEj07DnD
Paul Skenes struck out two batters and averaged almost 101 mph in his first big league inning. King 👑 (🎥 @TalkinBaseball_) https://t.co/I6QJAQDuE6
Paul Skenes strikes out the first two batters he faces in his MLB career. Full count against Mike Tauchman -- 100.9 mph heater Three pitches against Seiya Suzuki -- 84 mph slider Walk to Bellinger, DEEP flyout from Morel. PNC Park is into it. Good energy here.
Skenes first inning: 2 K’s, 1 BB, fastest pitch 102 https://t.co/dLG0PpY4YD
Inning No. 1 is in the books for Skenes. Two strikeouts, a walk and a fly out to deep center. 18 pitches, 11 strikes. Nine pitches over 100 mph.
WELCOME TO THE SHOW!! Strikeout number 1 on batter number at 101 MPH for Paul Skenes https://t.co/xip6bUrbXk
Paul Skenes, 1st Career K. Sitting 101 mph https://t.co/qIn8JEKGTy
We're live! Come hang out as we watch Paul Skenes' MLB debut LIVE! https://t.co/HjRbkWsIW9
Paul Skenes with a 101 mph fastball for ball one. https://t.co/fjJDmlCBCU
First pitch from Skenes: A 101 mph fastball, called for a ball.
Here's a fun stat... Paul Skenes is the first pitcher selected No. 1 overall to make his MLB debut the following season since Stephen Strasburg 14 years ago. The leadoff hitter for Strasburg's debut: Andrew McCutchen The leadoff hitter for Skenes' debut: Andrew McCutchen
The Paul Skenes anticipation 🔥🔥 (🎥 @Pirates) https://t.co/QWdftyScBd
Andrew McCutchen was the Pirates leadoff hitter when Stephen Strasburg made his MLB debut 14 years ago. McCutchen will be the Pirates leadoff hitter for Paul Skenes’ debut today (h/t @MarkZuckerman) https://t.co/sk8hvqPMBW
Pretty cool: When Stephen Strasburg made his MLB debut 14 years ago, the Pirates’ leadoff hitter was Andrew McCutchen. When Paul Skenes makes his MLB debut today, the Pirates’ leadoff hitter will be Andrew McCutchen.
The No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Paul Skenes, will debut for the Pirates on Saturday against the Cubs. What's with all the hype around the right-hander? @stephenjnesbitt on the Pittsburgh pitcher with a 100 MPH heater who dates Livvy Dunne ⤵️ https://t.co/9FSsVaSG8Y https://t.co/zF9kH5B0Il
PAUL SKENES. ‼️ (🎥: @Jake_Mintz) https://t.co/T9kBLqZ9BZ
First look at Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh ahead of his highly anticipated debut 🙌 (via @Jake_Mintz) https://t.co/RfWWMDbWg0
Happy Paul Skenes Day. The first pitch of his big league career is in 30 minutes. In the meantime, read for free at ESPN why he’s debuting now — and why he warrants all the hype he’s getting: https://t.co/X4ycTrPgZj
We are 35 minutes from game time for Paul Skenes @Pirates debut. Here's a cheat sheet on what you can expect from the talented pitcher (hint: it's a whole lot of good) https://t.co/FYWVSPn686
Column: Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes is set to make his major-league debut Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. Flashbacks to Mark Prior’s Cubs debut in 2002 are inevitable, and the Pirates hope Skenes can have the same kind of instant success. https://t.co/oATE5Blxub
1 hour until Paul Skenes makes his debut! @Ken_Rosenthal says this is a "stop what you're doing and watch" type of moment. 👀 https://t.co/Lgyv2rwHrG
Get ready Tiger fans! After a storied career at LSU, Paul Skenes is making his major league debut in Pittsburgh today. Tune in at 4:05 PM ET to cheer on Paul!
Paul Skenes has arrived at PNC Park. 👀 (Via: @MLB) https://t.co/KDSM2O53GE
Hype for Paul Skenes' debut 🔥🔥🔥 @Ken_Rosenthal on why the excitement is so real. https://t.co/FzKOrS9wpw
Paul Skenes makes his major league debut today at 4p et on @MLBNetwork Is he also the doppelgänger of @Miles_Teller ? https://t.co/7owqVqU88L
More excited for Cubs/Pirates to see @Paul_Skenes debut than any MLB regular season game in a decade.
One of the most anticipated debuts in recent time. 🍿 Will Paul Skenes lead the Pirates to a win? https://t.co/PZyVrv3u6B
Paul Skenes’ MLB debut this afternoon feels like it should be getting a lot more play nationally. Like, a TON more.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are finally giving baseball fans what they want, as they've called up No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes for today's game vs the Cubs. How are you backing one of the most highly-touted pitching prospects in recent memory? https://t.co/0WDPGTY05a
After spending the spring watching Paul Skenes carve up minor league hitters, the Pittsburgh Pirates have decided that the time has arrived to unleash the flame-throwing pitcher regarded as a generational talent on the major leagues. https://t.co/TTF9THlrRx
Paul Skenes K's in debut vs. Cubs
Stephen Strasburg’s debut was special, striking out 14‼️ How many will Paul Skenes fan in his first start? 👀 https://t.co/vXd1GwsqBk
Paul Skenes Day in Pittsburgh. All the excitement of 1979. #WeAreFamily #LetsGoBucs https://t.co/2SxCPthYxP
Paul Skenes is one of the most hyped prospects to reach the majors in some time. https://t.co/qQjQRiFQfq
Happy Paul Skenes Day Everyone ‼️#Pirates #MLB https://t.co/tcO73ZxV9W
Robert Gasser's MLB debut⛽️🔥 6 IP 2 hits 0 runs 0 walks 4 strikeouts https://t.co/UPuN1fWeTn
Paul Skenes is finally in the Show tomorrow! The Burgh n MLB are buzzing w excitement! https://t.co/kqq09IE77u
Tyler Glasnow, Dirty 90mph Slider. 😨 https://t.co/uLx99zYbev
Robert Gasser, Wicked 82mph Sweeper. 🤢 1st MLB K https://t.co/UvzQTZWbBy
Framber Valdez, Dirty 80mph Curveball. 😨 https://t.co/gHODv3PFdk
Joe Ryan, Wicked 83mph Sweeper. 🤢 https://t.co/sSU8zHSr7T
Paul Skenes Debut 👀 How many strikeouts will Skenes rack up tomorrow? 🤔 @_riley8 gives his thoughts 🔻🔻 https://t.co/XySK3AB6Or
The much anticipated MLB debut of Paul Skenes is coming TOMORROW! What to expect against the Cubs, what to expect the rest of the way, and what the betting odds are saying. ⬇️ https://t.co/UU7KBTPuk6
Pittsburgh is AMPED to watch Paul Skenes make his MLB debut on Saturday "The city will come alive" says @RadleyHaddad https://t.co/IoeAv2Yv2Z
Can already bet Paul Skenes strikeout total?! Paul Skenes debut 🤝 @FDSportsbook (And Alternate K totals as well) Click here: https://t.co/dFbUoFAaEd https://t.co/MK7jdCJNAm
Stephen Strasburg's MLB debut was massive. There are the obvious comps involving Paul Skenes. Thanks to @MattCapps55, @Garrett_GIJones, @NeilWalker18 & @karstens27 for putting the two in perspective: https://t.co/og6gRhsd3v
Erick Fedde, Wicked 83mph Sweeper. 🤢 https://t.co/2oYFpsjOla