Flamethrower Paul Skenes is growing frustrated with his Pirates workload

MLB’s No. 1 pick in the draft last summer is growing frustrated with his limited workload after several successful outings.

On Thursday night, the Pirates’ Paul Skenes tallied his fourth consecutive scoreless start to kick off the 2024 season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, but it was also his fourth straight start on a restrictive pitch count.

After the game against the Minnesota Twins’ affiliate, the St. Paul Saints, Skenes voiced his disappointment about how the Pirates have been navigating his workload.

“I wasn’t happy,” Skenes told MLB.com about being pulled in the fourth inning against the Saints. “But it’s over [manager Miguel Perez’s] head. It’s over my head.”

Across 3 1/3 innings, Skenes allowed one hit, two walks, and 14 strikeouts after a career-high 65 pitches — throwing 34 pitches 100-plus mph.

The Pirates have played it conservatively with Skenes after watching him throw over 120 innings at LSU for his final college season.

Currently, Skenes has 19 1/3 innings over nine professional outings and the team hasn’t indicated when it intends for Skenes to make his debut in the majors.

He is not alone in the restrictions: the Pirates have also been careful with rookie righty Jared Jones, who was drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB June Amateur Draft out of La Mirada H.S. in California.

Jones has made four starts in the majors, allowing 16 hits, eight earned runs, four home runs, and two walks across 23 innings.

This season, Skenes, the boyfriend of star LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, has pitched across 12 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and four walks overall.

He has also struck out 57.4 percent of the batters he has faced.

“It’s gone well,” Skenes told MLB of his first few weeks of the season. “A little bit frustrating sometimes, but I mean, taking it slow is just how it goes. But it’s gone well.”

Despite the limits, enough time has passed this season for the Pirates to add another year to keep Skenes in control of their system.