Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Pittsburgh Pirates have given their No. 1 overall pick an “extraordinary contract”.
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed pitcher Paul Skins (21-Louisiana State), the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s First-Year Player Draft, to an entry-level contract worth $9.2 million. The $9.2 million is a franchise record, surpassing the previous record of $8.41 million set by pitcher Spencer Tokelson (Detroit Tigers), who was also the No. 1 overall pick in 2020.
Skins is the “all-time great” prospect of this year’s draft. He throws a hard fastball that tops out at 102 miles per hour (164 kilometres per hour). Last season, Skins led Louisiana State to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship, going 13-2 with a 1.69 ERA. She started 19 games, recording five complete games and two shutouts. He struck out 209 batters while allowing just 20 walks. Baseball America, which specialises in evaluating prospects, raved that Skins’ fastball and breaking ball were both No. 1 among college pitchers this year. His fastball was ranked third and his changeup fifth.
The expectations for Skins are reflected in the prospect rankings. Baseball America recently released its top 100 prospects in all of MLB, ranking Skins, who hasn’t even made his debut, at No. 6. If he follows through with expectations, he’ll be at the top of the prospect rankings and move quickly through each level before reaching the big leagues.