Top pick Skenes to debut with FCL Pirates

Paul Skenes, the top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is expected to begin his professional career with the FCL Pirates this summer.

According to MLB.com's Justice delos Santos, Skenes' "career will begin with the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Pirates" after signing for $9.2 million on July 18.

“He's been an exceptional achiever wherever he's been, and we expect that to continue,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told MLB.com. “We're thrilled to start to work with him more personally now. We believe, based on what we know now, that he's got the combination of skills, competitiveness, ability to execute in competitive situations, critical situations, to move quickly through pro ball and be in the Major Leagues in the not-too distant future. But, we don't want to get into an exact timeline.”

No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes has signed with the @Pirates for an @MLBDraft record $9.2 million (slot = $9,721,000), per @jimcallisMLB.

He'll start his pro career in the Florida Complex League.

Signing & bonus tracker: https://t.co/hH9hTK8xP2 pic.twitter.com/3VJWVTlfLc

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 18, 2023

Skenes' workload in the FCL may be limited after the righty logged 122 2/3 innings -- the second-most frames of any Division I pitcher -- with LSU this spring, leading the Tigers to the College World Series championship. Skenes had a 1.69 ERA with 209 strikeouts for LSU and was named National Player of the Year, National Pitcher of the Year, SEC Pitcher of the Year, First-Team All-American and the Dick Howser Trophy Winner as the nation's top college player.

“Selfishly, I was really fired up that I was picked by the Pirates, first pick aside,” Skenes said at a press conference. “[I] just can't wait to start the journey.”

The Pirates have not set a debut date. Read MLB.com's full coverage here.