Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ prized prospect, is set to face the Chicago Cubs today after pitching only 34 stellar innings in the minors.
Paul Skenes’ much-ballyhooed MLB pitching debut, weather permitting, is a few hours away in Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ prized prospect is set to face the Chicago Cubs after pitching only 34 stellar innings in the minors. The numbers say the 6-foot-6, 235-pounder is ready. Every pitch has been scrutinized from every angle by fans, scouts and computers.
Bumpus Jones had no such analysis available 132 years ago when he made his debut for the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched a no-hitter.
Bobo Holloman was a journeyman minor-leaguer with a handful of MLB relief appearance when he made his first MLB start 71 years ago – and also pitched a no-no.
More about them later – and why most readers have no idea who they are despite their no-hit fame.
Skenes has been on baseball’s radar since he was 12 years old. At El Toro High School in California he was mostly a catcher and played some third base until his junior year. He was used mainly as a closer because the team had nobody who could catch his fastball for a full game.
As a senior, he allowed one run over 27 innings, striking out 32. He also hit 3 homers and was regarded more as an offensive player by most colleges. He went to an unlikely baseball school, the Air Force Academy – because that had always been his dream.
He worked 18 games in relief (1-1, 2.70 ERA), then made 15 starts as a sophomore (10-3, 2.
