Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed prospect Paul Skenes, the No. 1 decide in final summer time’s draft and the highest pitching prospect within the minors, made his fourth consecutive scoreless begin to start the season on Thursday night time. As with the earlier three outings, he was below a restrictive pitch depend.

Certainly, Skenes delivered a career-high 65 pitches throughout 3 1/3 innings vs. the St. Paul Saints (the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins). He allowed one hit and two walks, and he struck out eight of the 14 batters he confronted. 

After the sport, Skenes expressed some frustration with how the Pirates are managing his workload: “I wasn’t blissful,” he instructed MLB.com about being eliminated within the fourth inning. “However it’s over [manager Miguel Perez’s] head. It is over my head.”

Skenes has now tallied 19 1/3 innings throughout 9 skilled appearances. The Pirates have performed it low and gradual along with his publicity after seeing him throw greater than 120 innings for LSU final collegiate season. It is price noting that the Pirates have additionally handled rookie sensation Jared Jones in a conservative method.

On the yr, Skenes has given up a complete of 5 hits and 4 walks in 12 2/3 innings. He is struck out 57.4% of the batters he is confronted, exhibiting off an influence arsenal. CBS Sports activities wrote the next of him simply final week:

Skenes’ arsenal may be very a lot based mostly on energy: his fastball has averaged 100 mph, his swing-and-miss slider checks in at 87 mph, and a brand new splitter-changeup contraption he is loosed this spring clocks in at 95 mph. (Some change of tempo, huh?) The slowest pitch in his bag is a curveball that, on common, registers at 84 mph.

It is unclear when, exactly, the Pirates intend to debut Skenes within the majors. It’s price noting that sufficient time has handed this MLB season for them to achieve a further yr of staff management over his companies.