Pirates to call up MLB's top pitching prospect Skenes

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Wednesday they are promoting Paul Skenes to start Saturday's game versus the Chicago Cubs.

Skenes, 21, is MLB's top-ranked pitching prospect and third-ranked overall prospect. The Pirates drafted him first overall in 2023.

The right-hander posted an 0.99 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 27 1/3 innings at Triple-A. Skenes owns a 14.82 K/9 after striking out an astonishing 43% of batters faced in his seven starts.

Skenes, who stands at an imposing 6-foot-6, uses his 70-grade fastball and devastating slider to get hitters out.

The Pirates will look to Skenes to help them right the ship; the team has sunk to fourth in the NL Central after a promising start.