Pirates sign No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes

The Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday signed right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes, the membership’s first-round choice (No. 1 general) from the 2023 MLB Draft.

Skenes signed for $9.2 million (the slot worth was set at $9.721 million), a supply instructed MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, breaking the earlier file of $8,416,300 that Spencer Torkelson acquired from the Tigers. The membership has not confirmed the phrases of the deal.

The 21-year-old Skenes was rated by MLB Pipeline because the No. 1 prospect on this yr’s Draft whereas additionally being ranked by Baseball America because the No. 2 prospect.

Coming into the Draft, Baseball America rated Skenes as having the “Best Fastball,” “Best Breaking Ball,” third in “Best Control” and fifth in “Best Changeup” on this yr’s school class. Baseball America additionally rated Skenes because the “Best Athlete” amongst this yr’s school class.

Skenes went 13-2 with 5 shutouts, two full video games, a 1.69 ERA (122.2ip/23er), SEC-record 209 strikeouts, 20 walks and .165 batting common towards in 19 begins for the NCAA-champion LSU Tigers this previous season.

Skenes took house 2023 D1Baseball Player of the Year honors and was the SEC Pitcher of the Year. He additionally gained the College World Series Most Outstanding Player award after going 1-0 with a 1.15 ERA and 21 strikeouts in two begins in Omaha.

The 2023 first-team Baseball America All-American additionally took house this yr’s Dick Howser Award (nationwide school baseball participant of the yr) after ending second within the nation in ERA (1.69), third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (10.45), and fifth in hits allowed per 9.0 innings (5.28).

Skenes, who will start his skilled profession within the Florida Complex League, was signed by Pirates scout Wayne Mathis.