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From Mirror reports
The Pittsburgh Pirates are shutting down Paul Skenes for the season.
The team announced this afternoon that they placed Skenes, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, on the Development List, and he will not pitch again in 2023.
Skenes was slated to pitch for the Altoona Curve on Thursday night against visiting Harrisburg, which features Skenes’ teammate at LSU, outfielder Dylan Cruz.
“We’re excited and encouraged by the positive things Paul has been able to accomplish in his short time in the Pirates organization,” GM Ben Cherington said in a statement. “He’s checked all of the boxes we aimed for him to check during the 2023 season.
“The goal now is to focus on a complete offseason in preparation for his first full professional year in 2024.”
Skenes, 21, pitched 122 2/3 innings for LSU en route to the Tigers’ 2023 Men’s College World Series title, and he made five minor league appearances totaling 6 2/3 innings for the Pirates across three levels.
He pitched twice for the Curve. He had a rocky first outing before 10,164 fans — a Curve attendance record — on Saturday, Aug. 26. He followed that by allowing one hit while striking out three in two innings at Erie on Friday, Sept. 1.
Curve general manager Nate Bowen said Thursday’s pre-sale was about typical and “nothing like last Saturday.”
Skenes was a sensation out of the gate, showing off triple-digit velocity and allowing just one baserunner in his first three appearances between the Complex League and Single-A before joining the Curve.
MLB Pipeline ranks Skenes as the Pirates’ top prospect and No. 3 overall in baseball.