Morning Rundown: Pirates Shut Down Paul Skenes For Rest Of Season
The first overall pick this year only pitched 6.2 innings this season.
It looks like the much anticipated matchup between former college teammates will have to wait till next season, as the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to shutdown the first overall pick, Paul Skenes, for the rest of 2023.
The former LSU standout pitched 6.2 innings between the FCL, Single-A, and Double-A, striking out 10 batters, walking two, and allowing four earned runs in that span. Each of the walks and earned runs all came in his Double-A debut.
While it was originally believed that Skenes would pitch about 20 innings to close out the season, the Pirates decided they had seen enough from him this season, and will choose to protect their top prospect.
Although you wouldn’t think 6.2 innings (five starts) would do much for his development, there is merits in at least letting him experience the routine he’ll be using at the professional level.
Talking with Thomas Harrington in Greensboro, he noted that adjusting to the five man rotation, and pitching more often was one of the more difficult things he’s had to do in pro ball, and noted changing up his rest and recovery was key.
Actually letting Skenes experience that, especially going into the offseason, could help him mentally prepare for it come 2024.
So while we won’t get the Skenes vs Dylan Crews matchup, the Pirates did allow their top prospect to gather some valuable experience to take into the offseason.
Roster Moves
On top of Skenes getting put on the Development List, the Pirates also made some other moves throughout the system.
Nick Dombkowski was sent back to Double-A Altoona
Tyler Samaniego was placed on the 7-day injured list
Braeden Ogle was activated off the IL
Cal Mitchell was outright to Indianapolis
Justin Miknis was sent to the Development List
Enmanuel Terrero was activated off the IL
Minor League Recap 9/5
Indianapolis Indians - 8 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 6
Top Hitter - Canaan Smith-Njigba: 4-5, 5 RBI, 2 SB
Top Pitcher - Osvaldo Bido: IP, H, K
Altoona Curve - 4 vs Harrisburg Senators - 6
Top Hitter - Andres Alvarez: 3-4, R, RBI, 3B
Top Pitcher - Omar Cruz: 2 IP, H, ER, 2 K
Bradenton Marauders - 10 vs Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - 5
Top Hitter - Rodolfo Nolasco: 2-5, R, 5 RBI, 2B, HR (18), SB
Top Pitcher - Hung-Leng Chang: 5 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Skenes was over 100 IP before the draft, and the time between the end of the CWS and the draft and all of the other hoopla was a big hiccup in his routine. And, every one of his starts for LSU was a high pressure start - from February thru the end of the CWS in June. Those were the expectations placed on this 21 year old, and he handled it all very well. Physically and mentally, he could probably use a few months to get his head together and ready for early reports to ST in Feb 2024. I like this move by the Pirates.
Not mentioned because the game was suspended, but Thomas Harrington started the game and threw another 5 excellent innings for GBO last night at Bowling Green. Should start 2024 at AA Altoona along with Paul Skenes, Anthony Solometo, and possibly Bubba Chandler. Short drive to Pittsburgh!
It’s disappointing for fans, but of course we don’t matter anyway. Seriously, I understand why they did it and can’t argue their reasoning. Doing it this way just before a game many people were highly anticipating is anticlimactic. It would have been much easier to swallow and way more exciting for those of us looking forward to next year if they’d let him pitch an inning or two this week against Harrisburg and Crews and then shut him down for the year.
But that’s not the Pirate way, and we fans are left with no choice other than to rationalize our way around it and look to the future the same as always. Five months is a long time to wait, but it’ll be here before you know it, as they say. I just hope they have gone out and filled the holes in the major league lineup with some quality players when mid February rolls around so next year isn’t another anticlimax.