I’ve gotta give MLB some props for last night. What a cool event. After watching it, I wanted to put my initial thoughts down on paper from what I saw.
- Paul Skenes is really good
Like, really good. Every time we’ve seen him, he’s been sitting 100-101 and touching 102-103. He laid waste to the first batter he faced with three straight triple-digit sinkers.
After that, it was a rematch with Jackson Holliday. This time, Skenes struck him out swinging on a filthy 3-2 changeup.
I can’t wait to see how he performs when he needs to actually stretch himself out a bit. We haven’t seen him go more than 2 innings since LSU, so I’m interested what the velocity and the command look like when he’s forced to throw 80+ pitches in a game.
But there’s no denying this guy’s stuff. It’s some of the best I’ve ever seen. Please don’t mess this up, Pirates.
2. Hunter Barco, huh?
This was my first time seeing Barco since college and he looked impressive. He was sitting 93-94 with the fastball and the changeup looked VERY good.
2024 will be his first season where he is going in fully healthy. I’m curious if the Pirates push him and start him in Greensboro (they should).
3. Bubba Chandler is electric
It’s hard not to salivate at this organization’s depth when it comes to their pitching prospects and Bubba Chandler wanted to make sure no one forgot about him as he closed things out last night with a 1-2-3 9th inning where he sat in the upper 90s.
His command was a little all over the place, but the stuff is so so good.
4. Tony Blanco is a monster
I’ve seen Blanco hit in the cages at Pirate City but there was something about seeing him on the field with other players that made him stand out and make you go, “oh.”
I have no clue if he’s going to be any good. He really needs to work on making contact more, but it’ll be interesting if the Pirates can finally develop some international free agent hitter for the first time in over a decade.
5. Still unimpressed with Mitch Jebb
I just don’t see it. He’s a slap hitting lefty with zero power and I feel like every at bat from him ends up the same, with weak contact to the left side of the infield.
I didn’t like the pick at the time and he hasn’t done anything for me to change my mind.
Again, it was a very fun event and I hope MLB continues with this. Just a great way to showcase the sport’s young talent on a bigger stage.
North Shore Nine 
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