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The Team USA schedule for the World Baseball Classic continues on Sunday, March 15, against Team Dominican Republic.
Paul Skenes is the most decorated pitcher in MLB at the moment, and there’s no better guy to take the ball for the highly anticipated World Baseball semifinal matchup between Team USA and the Dominican Republic. As the current ace for the Pittsburgh Pirates, not many know where Paul Skenes began his pitching career before the pros.
Skenes is just 23, but his list of accolades and stats at the MLB level speaks for themself. He is a two-time All-Star, NL CY Young winner, NL Rookie of the Year, and has an ERA title all within *not even* two full seasons. He’s pitched 320 total innings and has an ERA of 1.96 over 55 starts. There’s no better guy to take the ball for Team USA in a win-or-go-home game. So, where did Paul Skenes pitch before Team USA and before being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates?
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Paul Skenes Pitched at LSU/Air Force Academy Before Being Drafted No. 1 Overall
GettyThe Team USA schedule for the World Baseball Classic continues on Sunday, March 15, against Team Dominican Republic.
Paul Skenes was taken No.1 overall (no brainer) after winning the 2023 NCAA College World Series with the Louisiana State University Tigers. His signing bonus was a record $9.2 million.
He swiftly made his way through the minor leagues before debuting with the Pirates in May of 2024. Skenes was flat out unhittable in 2023 with LSU, but what many don’t know about Skenes if that he actually spent two seasons at the Air Force Academy. In 2o22 with the Air Force baseball team, he posted a 2.73 ERA over 85.2 innings and struck out 96 batters. Those are incredible collegiate stats, but they would only get better.
In that 2023 season with LSU, Skenes really made a national name for himself. Over 122.2 innings and 19 starts with the Tigers, Paul Skenes boasted a 1.69 ERA and struck out 209 batters!! Two hundred and nine in one college season is absurd. Most *solid* collegiate pitchers usually have ERA marks in the mid-4.00s just due to the nature of the NCAA being more offense-oriented with metal bats, smaller ballparks, more walks, ETC.
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Paul Skenes Looking to Add to His American Lore
The American lore behind Paul Skenes and the love he has for his country has the chance to strengthen even more if Skenes posts a dominant start against a gauntlet of a lineup that the Dominican Republic has.
Skenes will be limited to about 75-80 pitches, so he will have to be efficient against some of MLB’s best hitters.
However, there is no better guy to take the mound right now than Skenes, who will oppose the DR’s Luis Severino.
The WBC semifinal is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. It’s one you do not want to miss.
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