“Doesn’t Have That” Amidst Impending MLB Debut, Concerns Get Raised Over Paul Skenes’ Pitching Versatility

The entire world is watching Paul Skenes. After a thunderous LSU season in 2023 and a hugely successful spring break, fans knew they’d have to wait just a few moments before witnessing the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospect in the MLB. With the Pirates finally announcing his debut in the upcoming weekend, multiple questions have been raised regarding this fire-breathing pitcher’s long-term future. Obviously, with these questions came some concerns.

Baseball America recently discussed the scouting report of Skenes. Despite being all praises for his 100 mph+ pitches and unreal control, they noted that the scouts did have some concerns over Skenes’ versatility. In short, is there more to Skenes than just his fastball? The fact that the Pirates have protected him in the minor leagues till now also raised some questions. So what do the scouts say?

Scott Braun, JJ Cooper, and Geoff Pontes pointed out some of the issues plaguing Skenes’ pitching. Though they were quick to point out that he had improved a lot from before, the concerns still remained. The first major concern was his fastball, which the experts deemed didn’t have “those plus characteristics that we look for.” Specifically, Skenes’ lack of deception and a high release point. 

However, at the same time, they noted that there was something special in the Pirates’ top prospect. “He throws 100 miles per hour and he throws it with command. When pitches hit a certain velocity threshold that he seems to sit at as a starter, it sort of alleviates some of the concern in terms of movement.”  But while Skenes’ fastball has always been his greatest weapon, multiple scouts have wondered whether it can prove to be effective in the major leagues.

Paul Skenes’ growing arsenal raises some confidence

The experts in Baseball America noted that scouts and the analytics department had concerns with Skenes’ fastball. “That was definitely a concern with Skenes. ‘Is this guy going to be able to miss bats with this fastball’ And if not, is it going to just be the slider or other secondaries?” However, the hosts also noted that Skenes has been showing his other pitches more lately.

Ever since the Spring Break, Paul Skenes’ expanded arsenal has been more visible. From sliders to splitters to changeups, he has been doing it all. That was part of the reason why despite these concerns, the hosts were still optimistic about his long-term prospects. Though they had mixed opinions on how long it would take for Skenes to become a top-tier pitcher, they agreed that he had potential. 

The final answer will arrive soon.  With Skenes set to debut this weekend, baseball fans will finally get to witness the full power of this highly anticipated prospect.