Top MLB Draft pick Paul Skenes inks record-breaking $9.2 million signing bonus with Pirates

Paul Skenes is raking within the huge bucks now.

Skenes, the primary choose of this month’s MLB Draft, inked his cope with the Pittsburgh Pirates that features a $9.2 million bonus, essentially the most ever given to a draft choose.

The best-hander’s deal beats out Spencer Torkelson’s from 2020 when he signed with the Detroit Tigers at $8.42 million. The primary baseman performed only one minor league season earlier than making Detroit’s Opening Day roster final 12 months.

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Skenes is recent off a Faculty World Collection victory with LSU after they took down SEC rival Florida in three video games (best-of-three sequence), and he was named the Most Excellent Participant of the event.

Within the faculty season, he went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 19 begins with 209 strikeouts in 122.2 innings. He additionally was named the Nationwide Pitcher of the 12 months and the recipient of the Dick Howser Trophywhich is given to the nationwide faculty baseball participant of the 12 months.

“It was a fairly straightforward determination, with the group and the folks which can be right here,” Skenes mentioned. “I used to be very comfy wanting to come back right here. It was general, an easy supply, for my part, to take.”

Paul Skenes #20 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after defeating the Florida Gators 18-4 in Sport 3 of the Division I Males’s Baseball Championship held at Charles Schwab Area on June 26, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Images by way of Getty Pictures)

Skenes is hoping that he does not need to spend an excessive amount of time within the minors. He thinks he is nearly prepared for the present.

“I feel by way of my stuff, I feel I’m very shut,” Skenes mentioned when requested if he thought he was prepared to leap on to the main leagues. “It’s a special recreation, and I’ve by no means clearly been on a giant league discipline. I’m going to do all the things I can to get there as quickly as attainable and no matter that takes bodily, mentally, no matter it’s, I’m going do no matter it takes to get there as quickly as attainable. There are totally different challenges, and I feel it’s much more demanding than faculty.”

His stuff is nasty — his fastball touches triple digits, and his offspeed have turn out to be true weapons in his arsenal.

Pittsburgh Pirates first spherical draft choose, pitcher Paul Skenes takes a drink as he walks to the bullpen at PNC Park following a gathering with reporters after signing with the group in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. The Pirates drafted Skenes first participant general on this 12 months’s Main League Baseball draft. (AP Picture/Gene J. Puskar)

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Skenes’ LSU teammate, outfielder Dylan Crews, was the second choose to the Washington Nationals.

The Related Press contributed to this report.