In his most recent outing, Skenes faced 19 batters and threw 71 pitches, demonstrating his stamina and ability to go deeper into games. His impressive outing included a variety of pitches, including a 100 mph fastball, a swing-and-miss slider, and a 95 mph sinker with exceptional movement that some have dubbed a “splinker”, similar to the pitch thrown by reliever Devin Williams.
Despite his impressive performance, Skenes remains level-headed about his impending promotion to the majors, stating, “That’s obviously the goal, so I’m just trying to do whatever I need to do here to be prepared to succeed up there.” While he acknowledges some impatience, he emphasizes the importance of executing and continuing to develop.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have handled Skenes’ workload conservatively, gradually increasing his innings pitched. His previous outing marked the first time he had worked into the fifth inning and surpassed 65 pitches as a professional. With each strong outing and increase in pitch count, Skenes moves closer to making his highly anticipated MLB debut.
The Pirates, who have a 13-11 record this season, will continue to monitor Skenes’ progress and determine the right time for his promotion to the major leagues. As he continues to showcase his talent and command on the mound, it is only a matter of time before Henry Skenes makes his mark in the majors.
