Former LSU pitcher Paul Skenes breaks MLB record with rookie contract from Pirates

No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes has signed his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, breaking the MLB record by agreeing to a $9.2 million signing bonus, according to a report from MLB.com’s Jim Callis.

The previous record was held by 2020 No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson, who signed a bonus for $8,416,300.

While it is a record-setting bonus, it does fall below the slot value assigned at $9.721 million.

The former LSU pitcher was unanimously considered the top pitching prospect in the draft and considered by many to be the best pitching prospect of the previous decade. MLB.com ranked him as the No. 1 prospect in the draft ahead of the event last week.

“After working at 93-95 mph and touching 99 with his fastball as a sophomore, Skenes has averaged 98 mph and hit 102 at LSU, with the flat approach angle and carry on his heater making it almost impossible to hit,” the MLB.com scouting report read. “His slider has improved under the tutelage of Tigers pitching coach Wes Johnson, becoming an 85-89 mph beast with sharp break and absurd swing-and-miss and chase rates. His power changeup arrives at 88-93 mph with fade and is a solid offering when he lands it in the strike zone.”

Skenes finished the 2023 season with the Tigers as a national champion, the National Pitcher of the Year Award, the SEC Pitcher of the Year and the Dick Howser Trophy as the nation’s top player.

He pitched in 19 games with a 12-2 record, 1.69 ERA, 0.750 WHIP and 209 strikeouts in just 122.2 innings. His 209 strikeouts set the SEC record, breaking Ben McDonald‘s record of 202 set in 1989.

McDonald and Skenes are the only two LSU players to ever be drafted No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft.

“It means a lot to be the first overall pick,” Skenes said after he was selected two Sundays ago. “I’m just looking forward to what’s to come with playing baseball and hopefully winning a World Series or two in Pittsburgh.”

His Tigers teammate and 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner Dylan Crews was drafted second overall in the 2023 MLB Draft. The slot value for the second overall pick is $9 million, although it is believed Crews will receive more than that.

If that ends up being the case, it could result in bonus record being broken once again in this cycle.