Skenes MLB Debut

S. Samek

Paul Skenes made his Major League debut this past Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Let’s see if it lived up to the hype.

Statistically it was a mixed bag. Skenes went four innings, gave up three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out seven. He allowed a home run, and his era is currently 6.75. He threw 84 pitches with 54 of them being for strikes. He earned a no decision, but the team did win 10-9.

So, no, he didn’t have a dominant debut. Yet he didn’t exactly have a clunker of one either. It’s just good to see him finally up in Pittsburgh.

Skenes Call Up Announced

S. Samek

Paul Skenes is finally getting the call. He will be pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday against the Chiago Cubs. The game starts at 4:05 PM EST.

Skenes last started on May 5th, 2024, and gave up a pair of runs and a home run. While it may have been his worst outing yet, it still wasn’t that bad. Overall, he pitched 27 1/3 innings with a 0.99 era in Triple-A this year. Most starts he looked great, and it was often questioned how much longer he would be staying in the Minor League for.

Well, the time has come for his Major League debut and hopefully he never pitches another game in the minors ever again. Let’s go Bucs, let’s go Skenes!

Skenes Starts 5/5/24

S.Samek

Paul Skenes made his next start against Buffalo yesterday, let’s see how he did.

The outing was a bit rougher than usual. He allowed two runs, three hits, walked two and struck out four. He allowed a home run as one of those hits. which was the first one he’d allowed sense being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Skenes pitched 4 1/3 innings throwing 66 pitches with 40 of them being for strikes.

His era sits at 0.99 so far this season. He received another no decision as the Indianapolis Indians would go on to win the game 8-3.

While the start wasn’t his best, it was on four days’ rest. He does continue to show promise overall. I’m sure the calls for him to be brought up to Pittsburgh will continue to come.

Padres Add Arraez

S.Samek

The San Diego Padres added Luis Arrez from the Miami Marlins in a trade.

The two-time batting champion and cash considerations are headed to San Diego while the Marlins receive pitch Woo-Suk Go, outfielders Jakob Marsee, Dillon Head and first baseman/outfielder Nathan Martorella.

With those three all being top 15 ranked prospects in the Padres system. Though Head now ranks as the Marlins fifth ranked prospect and Marsee 10th, and Martorella 11th.

Who won this trade?

Skenes Streak ends despite strong Outing

S.Samek

Paul Skenes is back on the mound and making his next start for Indianapolis. Bring in a scoreless inning streak of 12 2/3 to this contest against Omaha. Can he pick up his first win of the season? Will the streak continue? Let’s dive into the results of the start.

The streak came to a close as he surrendered a run in the second inning, and then another one in the fourth. He pitched 4.1 innings gave up the two runs on five hits allowed. He walked one hitter and struck out seven. The 4.1 inning pitched marked his longest outing of the season. The scoreless streak lasted 14.1 innings prior to it being broken up.

While he did raise his era from 0.00 to 0.53, he did exit with Indianapolis in front 6-2. However, he did reach a season high 71 pitches thrown and got 16 whiffs, also a season high. Indianapolis would go on to win 7-4 with Skenes getting a no decision. he is still 0-0 this season.

Lots of good things happening though and Skenes has been consistently good to start the year.

Kjerstad Joining the Orioles

S. Samek

The Orioles aren’t hesitating to go to their stocked farm system. First it was Jackson Holliday, now its Heston Kjerstad.

Kjerstad is lighting up Triple-A with 10 home runs in 21 games as well as a .349/.431/.744. The 10 home runs lead the International League at this time.

He is their top-rated outfield prospect, and number four in the Orioles system. He’s also the 29th rated prospected overall.

Should make this Orioles team even more exciting to watch. Welcome to the big show.

Langford Makes Rangers Roster

S.Samek

The Texas Rangers are adding number six overall prospect Wyatt Langford to the opening day roster.

Langford was drafted in 2023 and makes the opening day roster at just 22 years old, after playing 44 games in the minor leagues. Could the second-best prospect in their system help the Rangers as the look to defend their world series title?

Pirates Prospects Prevail Over Orioles at Spring Breakout

S.Samek

The MLB Spring break out event choose quite the opening act. The Pittsburgh Pirates prospects led by Paul Skenes against the Baltimore Orioles prospects led by Jackson Holliday.

This is the second time the two top prospects clashed as they both faced each other in a spring training game back in February. During that contest Skenes retired Holliday as part of a scoreless inning of work.

Now backed by a whole roster of his fellow top prospects could Skenes’s defeat Holliday again?

Well, he can, and we did. Skenes threw serious heat, hitting over 100 MPH constantly as he shut down the Orioles top farmhands. He threw a scoreless inning striking out two including Holliday on six pitches.

Braxton Ashcraft was the winning pitcher for the Pirates prospects. Termarr Johnson had a 1-3 day. Jack Brannigan and Mitch Jebb each had an RBI. Bubba Chandler recorded a save. Hunter Barco threw two scoreless innings in relief, while Patrick Reilly and Khristian Curtis each threw a scoreless frame in the win.

Overall, a very successful Spring Breakout game for the Pirates prospects and good look at the future of Pirates baseball.

Spring Breakout Rosters Announced

S. Samek

MLB has announced the rosters for each team for their 2024 Spring Breakout prospect game.

Of course I’m going to take more of a look into the roster selected for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Pirates will play the Baltimore Orioles in the event on March 14th, 2024, in a matchup that’s sure to feature many top prospects.

Paul Skenes of course highlights the pitching staff. Skenes is familiar with the Orioles as he pitched a 1-2-3 inning against them during his first spring training start.

Anthony Solometo, Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington and Braxton Ashcraft are other strong pitching prospects to make the roster, as all rate in the top ten of the Pirates top 30 prospects list.

Termarr Johnson is the highest rated prospect for the Pirates infielders. He will be joined by Mitch Jebb, Tsung-Che Cheng and Jack Brannigan, all top ten prospects.

Lonnie White Jr leads the outfield as the highest rated player there.

Overall, it looks like a solid roster with lots of chances to see the best prospects in the Pirates system be showcased.

Pittsburgh Pirates top 30 Prospects Named for 2024

S.Samek

The Pittsburgh Pirates named their top 30 prospects for the 2024 season.

No surprise to see Paul Skenes was the number one prospect. Termarr Johnson was the number two prospect, while Jared Jones was named third best prospect. Anthony Solometo and Bubba Chandler round out the top five. Four of the top five prospects in the system are pitchers.

Thomas Herrington, Braxton Ashcraft, Mitch Jebb, Tsung-Che Cheng and Jack Brannigan rounded out the top ten. Pitching still remained more represented at six of the top ten being pitchers. Pitchers ultimately make up less than half of the overall list though.

Seems like most of the list comes from the lower levels of the minors, rookie ball, A, or A plus. However, Skenes, Jones, Chandler and Solometo should all be starting at upper levels, giving those teams some top prospects to watch.