Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature currently requires accessing the site using the built-in Safari browser.
Skenes fans 7, tops 100 mph 17 times in debut
Paul Skenes, the top-ranked pitching prospect in baseball, had a promising major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, working into the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs while throwing 17 pitches of 100 mph or more in a 10-9 victory.www.espn.comPaul Skenes strikes out seven in MLB debut as Pirates win
Paul Skenes' stuff was as electric as advertised.
A fastball that reached at least 100 mph 17 times. A slider that left major leaguers shaking their heads. An invention called a "splinker" that is a hybrid of a splitter and a sinker and dips and dives unlike any pitch anywhere in baseball.
Yet even at age 21, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie knows all the "oohs" and "ahs" and knee buckles a ball that at times seems to explode out of his right hand can produce won't matter if he can't control it.
So while there were some positive takeaways from his major league debut Saturday -- seven strikeouts over four-plus innings and much, much later a 10-9 victory over the Chicago Cubs -- the top overall pick in last year's draft understands there is more work to be done.
He needed 84 pitches to get 12 outs, issued a couple of walks, hit a batter and was charged with three runs. For a player whose workload will be closely monitored, that's not nearly as efficient as he'd like.
Yes, there were moments of brilliance in front of a crowd of 34,924 that included his famous girlfriend, LSU gymnast and social media influencer Livvy Dunne.
.
.
.
continued