Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes was throwing a triple-digit heater in a Grapefruit League game win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, had fans buzzing over his blazing fastball, as seen in a video posted on social media by MLB analyst Rob Friedman.
Some fans were blown away by the sound of the ball hitting the mitt of catcher Henry Davis, while another person said Skenes “has gotta keep Livvy impressed,” referring to his girlfriend, LSU star gymnast, Olivia Dunne — a top NIL earner and Sports Illustrated model.
Skenes, 21, confirmed his relationship with Dunne during an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in August 2023.
The 21-year-old gymnast is currently in her senior year at LSU, where the couple met.
Skenes led the Tigers to at national championship during the 2023 College World Series.
Skenes was hitting triple digits on the mound in the Pirates’ 7-3 win over the Rays on Monday.
It came after he logged 102 miles per hour in a spring training outing against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.
Although the Pirates are impressed with Skenes’ performance and maturity, the club wants to see him adjust to a professional schedule before adding him to the rotation.
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington informed the right-hander on Tuesday that he will start the season in the minors, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“As we looked at the boxes that needed to be checked for him to be in a position where we’d feel confident and frankly safe to consider him for the major leagues, a lot of those boxes that haven’t been checked yet are not things he has full control over,” Cherington said of Skenes, who’s logged only 6 2/3 minor league innings.
“It’s just a matter of where he is in his career and not having had the opportunity yet to experience everything that comes along with being a professional pitcher.”
Cherington did not say if Skenes, who will remain in MLB spring training, will start the season with Triple-A Indianapolis or Double-A Altoona.
“He hasn’t yet quite had the opportunity to adjust to a professional schedule in terms of shorter rest between starts and things like that,” Cherington said. “We looked at the total work volume last year, the innings between LSU and pro ball.
“We look at what’s a reasonable projection for 2024 and try to manage that for a full season. We just feel like it’s more realistic and better for us to start that process in the minor leagues.”
It was always unlikely that Skenes made the big-league club out of spring training.
“The goal is to be a major leaguer and win a World Series,” he said. “This is where it starts. I’ve spent a lot of time over the offseason thinking about it. Saw the data on guys who have come before me. I knew the likelihood [of making the team] was pretty low.
“I’ve thrown 6 2/3 innings in pro ball. It’s just kind of how it goes. [Cherington] said it would be unprecedented if I started the year in the big leagues. Not that I don’t think I can do it, but I understand it.”
Cherington praised Skenes for his demeanor, both on and off-the-field, and called him a “pro” after their meeting Tuesday.
“What we want to do is put him in the best position possible to help us win games in Pittsburgh as soon as possible and then for as long as possible,” Cherington said. “We really believe we’re totally aligned with him on that. We’re very confident he’s gonna do his part.”
Skenes has impressed in spring training, and the Pirates like what they’ve seen.
“I think he’s just affirming what we’ve known about him and felt about him from the time of the draft,” Cherington said. “Certainly off the field, we continue to get feedback about the teammate, the worker and how prepared he is.
“Obviously a really accomplished and talented guy, and yet someone who is still working on his craft every day. There’s been adjustments he’s made, even since the beginning of spring training, that we’re seeing coming into games.”
The Pirates can also promote Skenes in mid-April.
