Report: Pirates, No. 1 pick Skenes agree to record $9.2M bonus

The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a record $9.2-million signing bonus with 2023 first overall pick Paul Skenes, according to Jim Callis of MLB.com.

Skenes' bonus comfortably eclipses the previous high set by the Detroit Tigers and 2020 No. 1 pick Spencer Torkelson, who earned a bonus barely more than $8.4 million.

The pick had a league-mandated slot value of $9,721,000. The LSU ace was considered the top pitcher on the board but was competing to go first overall with his college teammate Dylan Crews, who ultimately went second to the Washington Nationals.

The 21-year-old posted a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP over 122 2/3 innings in his final year with LSU, helping lead the Tigers to a College World Series championship and winning tournament MVP.

This marked the second time the Pirates selected a pitcher with their first overall pick; Gerrit Cole's $8-million bonus set a previous record back in 2011.