Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Paul Skenes Bounces Back in Second Double-A Start

After struggling in his Double-A debut, highly touted Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Paul Skenes dominated in his second start with Altoona

Last Saturday, Paul Skenes made his debut with the Double-A Altoona Curve. Things, however, did not go how Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates hoped they would. Skenes would allow 4 runs while recording just two outs and failing to get out of the 1st inning.

Friday night, Skenes once again took the mound for Altoona. This time it was in Erie against the SeaWolves. Unlike his first outing with the Curve, Skenes was dominant in helping to lead the Curve to a 6-3 victory.

Skenes fired 2 scoreless innings. He threw 18 of 25 pitches for strikes, retired six of the seven batters he faced, did not walk a batter, and struck out three. This looked like the Skenes the Pirates and their fans saw in his first four professional outings.

Friday night, Skenes' pitches were filthy and his stuff was dominant. He routinely made Erie batters look silly and overmatched. This was the potential top prospect in all of baseball version of Skenes that the Pirates hope to get with regularity.

Skenes has now pitched 6.2 innings in his five professional outings. He has allowed five hits, walked two and struck out 10. Both of his walks and all 4 of the runs that Skenes has allowed came in that one poor outing with Altoona.

Next up for Skenes will almsot assuredly be another with the Curve. Most likely at some point this week when they return to PNG Field in Altoona when they welcome Harrisburg to town. It remains to be seen if Skenes will make his MLB debut for a cup of coffee with the Pirates this month, but that certainly should not be ruled out.