Pirates prospect Paul Skenes focused on preparing for major leagues, not timeline for call-up

During an appearance Friday on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show,” Pittsburgh Pirates 2023 No. 1 draft choice Paul Skenes said he has no idea when he will be called up to the big leagues.

“I’ll be honest,” he told McAfee. “You know just as well as I do when I’m going up.”

He said he is focused on getting ready for that call-up, trying different strategies on the mound for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians that he will need with the Pirates.

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“The goal of being (in Indianapolis) is to be a big leaguer,” he said. “Whatever it takes to get ready to get big-league hitters out is what I’m trying to accomplish right now.

“That changes outing to outing, throwing more changeups, more offspeed, mixing it in — although maybe we don’t need to — just to be ready to face big-league hitters because I will need that.

“It’s kind of like walking the line a little bit of what I need to accomplish to be ready whenever that day comes and get these guys out right now.”

Skenes has allowed no runs and only five hits in four outings (12²⁄₃ innings) with the Indians. When he pitched against St. Paul on Thursday, he threw 34 of his 65 pitches 100 mph or faster and struck out eight in 3¹⁄₃ innings.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton watched video of the game to keep an eye on Skenes and catcher Yasmani Grandal, who is on a rehab assignment.

“He’s done a good job so far,” Shelton said. “I talked to Yas about Yas, and I also asked him about Paul. I think the thing we’re seeing is he is continuing to build up, and we’re going to continue to build him up. I think the efficiency of his pitches is something we’re going to continue to talk about. But we just have to get his volume built up.”

Shelton said he understands why fans are eager to see Skenes in Pittsburgh.

“There’s a plan in place. Sometimes, people want to expedite that plan. I understand that. That’s human nature,” Shelton said. “But we just feel there are steps he needs to take before we ultimately make a decision.

“We have to do what’s best for the player. We have to do what’s best for the organization. In all cases, being able to stay disciplined to our approach is something that’s really important to us.”

After the game Thursday, Skenes said he “wasn’t happy” to be removed from the game in the fourth inning. Shelton said he has no problem with Skenes’ expressing such frustration.

“Honestly, we want him to want more,” Shelton said. “That’s one of the things that we liked about him when we drafted him, the fact that this guy has a winning mentality and a ‘go’ mentality.”

When McAfee asked Skenes about the proliferation of arm injuries among pitchers, he said he doesn’t worry about it.

“Part of it (is), you have to be strong to throw hard in the first place,” he said. “In order to continue to throw hard, you have to be strong. That’s the biggest piece.

“It sucks, but it’s part of the game. You can’t go out there thinking about that. It could happen, but your job is to go out there and throw hard and get outs and do whatever it takesbetween starts to go out there and continue to do that over the long season.”

He said he threw 120 pitches per game for about a month last season for LSU.

“I don’t know how I do it. My body felt great while I was doing it,” he said. “Last couple years, just growing into my body and getting stronger. When I was a junior in high school, I was throwing 86 mph.”

He added he’s working to make the necessary adjustment from college to the minor leagues.

“It’s different. It’s something I’m learning right now. Obviously, Triple-A is different than the big leagues, but Triple-A is also different than college. Just trying to figure that out.

“Hitters are better, the balls are smoother and the seams are smaller, so it’s kind of hard to throw. Just a bunch of little adjustments you have to get used to.”

Asked about what he does in his spare time, he admitted he has no hobbies and is not on social media but is hoping to attend an Indiana Pacers NBA game soon.

McAfee, a Plum native, was surprised when Skenes, who has listened to audio books while he warms up, said he doesn’t know there is a zoo next door to the Indians’ home venue, Victory Field. He also said he is unaware of the popularity of fireworks at PNC Park.

“I try to sleep as much as I can,” he said. “I haven’t done a whole lot here. I like Indy. I really do.”

Shelton said he is pleased with Skenes’ single-mindedness.

“That’s probably a rare breed in today’s world that he doesn’t (have hobbies or social media),” the manager said. “I love the focus, and I think he’s focused on one thing.”

When we draft guys, we’re seeing a lot of the guys who we’ve drafted over the past three or four years who have a very similar winning focus/mindset, which I think is important for our overall organizational culture, not just in Pittsburgh, but throughout the group.”