Paul Skenes could be Stephen Strasburg. Stephen Strasburg could be Paul Skenes. Send Skenes back in time or bring Strasburg forward, and one easily could stand in for the other. Both overmatched college hitters, leading CAA Division I in strikeouts while posting the highest K rates in D-I history for

It remains to be seen what kind of big league career Paul Skenes will have, but now that it’s about to begin, we can try to put the build-up to his Major League debut in some historical context. There is no question that Skenes’ debut is the most highly anticipated

INDIANAPOLIS -- Paul Skenes was a national champion at LSU. He became a No. 1 overall pick with the Pirates in 2023. He’s been the Minors’ most dominant pitcher at Triple-A Indianapolis to begin 2024. And in many ways, he still thinks like that catcher calling pitches for Air Force

With growth comes growing pains, even for the top pitching prospect in baseball. Pitching on four days' rest for the first time as a professional, Paul Skenes allowed his first home run since the Pirates selected him with the No. 1 overall Draft pick last July, but he limited the

With every 100 mph fastball and crackling slider he unleashes, Paul Skenes nears the inevitable. As MLB's No. 3 overall prospect continues to enhance his reputation as a generational talent, the rest of the baseball world watches and waits for possibly the most anticipated big league debut by a pitching

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Last month, a newsletter reader named Karen emailed the following question: “What is the most

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Pirates prospect Paul Skenes, who will be spotlighted each month as a Nationwide Road to The Show "featured player" in 2024. For more stories about players

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. The pomp and circumstance of Opening Day is in the rearview mirror and the world

INDIANAPOLIS -- Thursday night brought another Paul Skenes start, and that meant more triple-digit heat, more strikeouts, more zeros in the runs column … and another relatively abbreviated outing for the top pitching prospect in baseball. In his fourth outing of the young season, MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 overall prospect

Paul Skenes unleashed his signature four-seam fastball in the bottom of the second inning against Justice Bigbie but failed to find the strike zone, issuing the first four-pitch walk of his young professional career. There shouldn’t have been a reason for concern at this point in the game. MLB’s No.

If you thought Paul Skenes' starts were appointment viewing last year, when he reached Double-A after being the top overall pick in the Draft by the Pirates, you would be right. But this year, every time the Pirates' top prospect takes the mound, it’s even more of a must-see experience.

Ninety Minor League Baseball teams open up Friday, joining the 30 Triple-A squads that kicked off the 2024 campaign on March 29. And with every Minor League season comes Minor League promotions, the vast array of theme nights and giveaways taking place on a nightly basis as supplements to the

The Pirates sent Paul Skenes to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2024 season in hopes of getting him a little more professional experience before making his MLB debut. One start into the season, the top pitching prospect in baseball (No. 3 overall) looks as dominant as can be.

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Last week, I provided a rollicking round-up of notable 2024 Triple-A promotions. Today, we’ll gingerly

2024 marks the seventh season of Minor League Baseball's Copa de la Diversión program in which teams assume alternate identities that engage with and celebrate their region's Hispanic fan base. Nighty-eight MiLB teams are participating in Copa de la Diversión this season, the most ever, for a total that represents

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE.

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at fourth-ranked Pirates’ prospect Anthony Solometo. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. There are many ways to describe Anthony Solometo’s delivery,

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.

Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each organization and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in each farm system. Next up in our 2023 Organization All-Stars series are the Pittsburgh Pirates. 2023 organization summary: Triple-A Indianapolis: 70-78 Double-A

Jerseys can be gateways. And in the Minor Leagues, there’s plenty to explore. The kit can represent the town, a favorite food, the local culture, an important issue. And with longer affiliation partnerships, more teams have used them to connect with their parent clubs. Not to mention, they’re nice to

On the cusp of their 20th year as the Grasshoppers, Greensboro’s Minor League team has taken a leap forward. The Grasshoppers, High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, unveiled refreshed logos and uniforms during a ballpark event on Wednesday evening. The long-running South Atlantic League team, which adopted the Grasshoppers moniker

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- What were you doing 50 years ago? For those who have been around long enough to even consider that question, the answer is probably a bit hazy. Not so for Indianapolis Indians broadcaster Howard Kellman, who can tell you exactly what he was up to: Working tirelessly

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.

Throughout MLB history, over 20,000 players have taken the diamond. A common debate among fans is who is the best of this group, Babe Ruth? Barry Bonds? Willie Mays? The list goes on. However, a rarely explored topic is who is the worst player of all time? Never fear, we

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.