| Paul Skenes | |
|---|---|
 Skenes with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 30 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 29, 2002 Fullerton, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 11, 2024, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 11–3 |
| Earned run average | 1.96 |
| Strikeouts | 170 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Paul David Skenes (/skiːnz/, born May 29, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024. Skenes played college baseball for the Air Force Falcons and LSU Tigers.
Skenes was born and raised in Orange County, California, where he attended El Toro High School and played three seasons of varsity baseball. Skenes initially attended the United States Air Force Academy and won the John Olerud Award, given annually to the best two-way player in college baseball, in 2022. Ahead of his junior season, Skenes transferred to LSU, where he won Southeastern Conference and national pitcher of the year honors as well as the Dick Howser Trophy. Skenes was part of the LSU pitching staff during the team's 2023 Men's College World Series championship win and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Skenes entered the 2023 MLB draft as one of its most anticipated prospects and considered by some as the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg.[1] Skenes was selected first overall by the Pirates and signed to a $9.2 million bonus. After working through the Pirates’ farm system in just one season, he made his MLB debut in May 2024 and was named the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2024 All-Star Game, becoming only the fifth rookie in MLB history to do so.[2]
- ^ Farkas, Brady (June 28, 2023). "ESPN MLB Insider Compares LSU's Paul Skenes to Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg". FanNation. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Rookie Paul Skenes Named NL Starting Pitcher for All-Star Game". July 12, 2024.