Pirates’ No. 1 draft pick Paul Skenes makes minor league debut

Bill Hartlep | Thursday, August 10, 2023 1:02 p.m.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates first round draft pick Paul Skenes throws in the outfield before a game against Cleveland on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at PNC Park.

Paul Skenes made his professional baseball debut Thursday afternoon, and it was a quick one.

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ No. 1 overall pick out of LSU, Skenes started for the FCL Pirates in their game against the FCL Twins at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla.

He tossed a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. He threw 11 pitches before being lifted after one inning.

Skenes got a groundout and flyout before striking out Walker Jenkins, the Twins’ No. 5 overall draft pick.

Paul Skenes professional debut:

1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO pic.twitter.com/oWpjU27pym

— Milb Central (@milb_central) August 10, 2023

His fastball topped out at 101 mph.

It was Skenes’ first outing since he pitched against Wake Forest in the College World Series June 22.