Around the Curve

By Jon Mozes
AltoonaCurve.com

This story is part of the series 2024 Spring Break: Young Bucs Edition, a compilation of reports from Bradenton leading up to Opening Day.

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Pirates have eyes on a playoff run in 2024 and the wave of young talent that is arriving in Pittsburgh is expected to have a major impact on the team’s success this season. Central to the team’s plans this season is the role of the No. 1 overall draft selection in 2023, right-hander Paul Skenes. 

Skenes, who made his Double-A debut in Altoona on August 26, 2023 in front of a PNG Field record 10,164 fans, spent much of his off-season working out at LSU where he finished a collegiate career that began at Air Force. Skenes did most of his off-season work on his own, but related that he was happy to join the workouts in Bradenton in early February.

“Spring Training has been great, it’s nice to be around the team that you’re going to play with everyday,” Skenes said early on Tuesday morning.

Not only has he enjoyed working out with his teammates and getting to know so many, Skenes has embraced the challenge of facing major league hitters for the first time. Through play on March 12, Skenes has made two appearances with the Pirates in spring training, striking out three batters in 3.0 innings. 

“I think the feedback I’ve gotten from hitters here is that my stuff is good. Just throw it in the zone and attack and I’ll get them out more often than not,” Skenes said.

Spring training can often feel like a grind, but Skenes is enjoying the camaraderie that comes with being in a clubhouse. From casual conversations with teammates like Yasmani Grandal, Skenes is glad to be around so many veterans to pick their brains about how to be successful at this level.

“I think more than anything, it’s been learning how to pitch and sequencing. Grandal has been great. He’s obviously been around the game for a long time and I’m looking forward to playing with him this season.” Skenes shared.

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Curve Cuts

• Grandal’s presence appears to be felt among the entire pitching group. Over the last two days, Skenes, Jared Jones and Sean Sullivan have all noted how helpful his observations and experience has been.
• 2021 Curve outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba is thrilled to be back with so many familiar faces in the Pirates clubhouse. Smith-Njigba spent most of his off-season in Seattle living with his brother Jaxon who now suits up for the Seattle Seahawks. Canaan was Designated for Assignment by the Pirates at the end of January and claimed by the Seattle Mariners before they DFA’d him on February 19 and the Pirates reclaimed him back into the organization. He’s knocked three home runs in ten games for the Pirates through play on March 12.
• 2017 Curve outfielder Jordan Luplow suited up for the Braves at LECOM Park on Tuesday. Luplow reached the major leagues for the first time with the Pirates that season and played 37 games for them in 2018 before being traded to the Cleveland Guardians in 2018 in exchange for INF Erik Gonzalez, RHP Dante Mendoza and RHP Tahnaj Thomas. Since the trade he’s appeared for Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Toronto and Minnesota. Luplow has made 362 appearances in the major leagues and knocked 47 homers with a .212 career batting average. Luplow went 1-for-3 with an infield single in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game.
• 2022 Curve infielder Jared Triolo is in a spring competition for the Pirates second base job. Triolo picked up a solid single to left field as part of a 1-for-3 day at the plate. It’ll be interesting to see how the infield group shakes out for the Pirates with Liover Peguero, Nick Gonzales and Alika Williams all vying for what appears to be two spots on the major league roster. Triolo’s performance last September has given the organization confidence in his bat and his versatility with the glove should make him a highly valuable player.
• Several minor league players jumped over from Pirate City for Tuesday’s matchup with the Braves including 2023 Curve members: RHP Jack Carey, LHP Nick Dombkowski, LHP Geronimo Franzua, RHP Justin Meis, OF Jase Bowen and C Dylan Shockley. Bowen got into the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning and didn’t take an at-bat.
• 2023 Curve outfielder Joe Perez struck out in his lone appearance at the plate on Tuesday afternoon against Atlanta. Perez is in came as a non-roster invitee after finishing his season in Triple-A Indianapolis. Perez raked with Altoona in the final weeks of the 2023 season batting .341/.477/.621 with three doubles, seven home runs and 18 runs batted in in 25 games with the Curve. 
• 2022-23 Curve RHP Kyle Nicolas tossed a scoreless inning of relief working around a pair of walks with two outs in the eighth inning. Nicolas tossed 5.0 innings and struck out eight batters across five appearances in major league camp. 

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Stay tuned to the Around the Curve blog all week for our 2024 Spring Break: Young Bucs Edition series, with Jon Mozes reporting from Bradenton.