Pirates sign No. 1 overall pick to record signing bonus

With one other season slipping away, Pittsburgh Pirates followers are once more caught wanting towards the long run. A major a part of that future is anticipated to be pitcher Paul Skenes, the No. 1 total choose within the 2023 MLB Draft.

On Tuesday, the Pirates formally began his path to the key leagues by signing him to his first professional contract that options a record $9.2 million signing bonus.

That bonus exceeds the earlier report of $8.42 million signed by Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson after he was picked No. 1 total within the 2020 draft. 

The Pirates had the highest choose this yr after profitable MLB’s first draft lottery, and there was a prolonged debate as to whom they’d soak up that spot. Skenes and his LSU teammate, outfielder Dylan Crews, have been the consensus high two prospects within the class, however there was additionally hypothesis the Pirates may decide to go in a special course (like highschool outfielder Max Clark) with the intention to get a decrease signing bonus after which unfold the financial savings out over the remainder of their draft class.

In the long run, the Pirates went with Skenes off of a dominant season for LSU. 

Skenes is likely one of the greatest pitching prospects to come back out of the NCAA since Stephen Strasburg went No. 1 total in 2009.

He’s instantly the highest prospect within the Pirates system and one of many high prospects in baseball. Given his age and dominance in school, it might not be a stretch to assume he might make his MLB debut someday subsequent season. 

There’s at all times some threat with taking a pitcher No. 1 total on account of damage issues and the way unpredictable his improvement may be, however that is additionally the Pirates’ greatest and most certainly path to touchdown a front-line beginning pitcher. 

This was the sixth time the Pirates have picked No. 1 total, but their track record with that spot is not exactly great. Skenes is the fourth pitcher they’ve taken in that spot.

The Pirates additionally had the No. 1 total choose in 2021 the place they chose catcher Henry Davis. Davis just lately made his main league debut and is at present the crew’s beginning proper fielder.