Top MLB Draft prospect Paul Skenes had a dominant season that ended with a College World Series for the LSU Tigers. The right-handed pitcher finished the year 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and a whopping 209 strikeouts in 19 starts (122 2/3 innings).
Skenes is projected by most to be the first overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in this weekend’s MLB Draft. He has great stuff that could easily transition to the major-league level.
In fact, Skenes might be good enough to join rare company and pitch in the majors this year.
Veteran pitcher Chris Sale, who made his MLB debut just two months after being drafted, said he thinks Skenes has what it takes to join that exclusive club while on the Audacy Original Podcast “Baseball Isn’t Boring” this week.
“The guy is built like a tank. The guy’s got a rocket for an arm,” Sale said (13:45 in player above). “He’s got stuff. That is elite-level pitching. Just because he’s in college right now doesn’t make it any different.”
Sale was drafted on June 7th, 2010 and made his first major-league appearance less than two months later on August 6th in Baltimore. He knows what it takes to make that transition and thinks Skenes can as well.
“If you took him off of the mound in Omaha and you threw him out there tonight and he did exactly the same thing, you’d say ‘Jesus, this dude is going to be one of the best pitchers in the big leagues,’” Sale exclaimed. “He’s just wearing a different uniform right now.”
While Skenes may not follow in Sale’s footsteps as the White Sox were in need of a left-handed reliever in 2010, the hurler shouldn’t take too long before getting his first chance on a major league mound.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram