The highly-anticipated MLB debut of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes didn’t disappoint. Skenes, the #1 total choose within the 2023 draft, debuted to as a lot fanfare as any younger pitcher has acquired previously 15 years — and whereas the efficiency itself was a bit uneven, the Pirates gained a high-scoring thriller over the Chicago Cubs in entrance of Olivia Dunne and 1000’s extra at a buzzing PNC Park.
The person who equipped the eventual game-winning residence run within the sixth inning was none apart from Andrew McCutchen — a former NL MVP with the Pirates and a participant considered top-of-the-line within the franchise’s lengthy historical past. McCutchen has performed a job now in three of the most-anticipated pitching debuts of the twenty first century, a singular accomplishment that may not be matched anytime quickly.
McCutchen has performed in some historic debuts
Though McCutchen has loved a wonderful (and prolonged) profession, the five-time All-Star hasn’t usually performed for high-quality groups. That has given him the chance to play behind Skenes (the 2023 high choose) and former Pirates ace Gerrit Cole — the highest total choose within the 2011 draft who made his debut in Pittsburgh on June 11, 2013. McCutchen hit third that day, and the Pirates gained 8-2, with future Cy Younger Award winner Cole permitting two runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched.
Three years earlier, on June 8, 2010, McCutchen was the leadoff man because the Pirates visited the Washington Nationals — who gave Stephen Strasburg his MLB debut in opposition to Pittsburgh. The hype round Skenes’ debut mirrored Strasburg‘s — each tall, well-built energy pitchers with 100 mile-per-hour fastballs. Strasburg went on to file 14 strikeouts — together with one in all McCutchen — because the Nationals gained his debut 5-2.
Skenes’ debut noticed the previous LSU star battle some inconsistency, however his large fastball and snappy breaking pitches saved Cubs hitters off-balance. Skenes’ common fastball velocity topped 100 mph, and the right-hander recorded seven strikeouts in his first 4 major-league innings after blowing away minor-league hitters for the higher a part of a yr.
As for McCutchen, now 37 years previous, his sixth-inning residence run prolonged the Pirates’ result in 10-8 — and although the Cubs would get a run again within the ninth inning, Pittsburgh would cling on to win 10-9 and enhance to 18-22 within the aggressive NL Central division. The blast, McCutchen’s fourth of the season, gave him 303 profession homers.
