Pirates sign No. 1 pick Skenes to record rookie deal

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- The Pirates are signing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft to a record-breaking deal.

Paul Skenes agreed to a deal which includes a $9.2 million dollar signing bonus. The contract with Pittsburgh shatters the previous record held by 2020 No. 1 draft pick Spencer Torkelson, who signed an $8.42 million dollar deal with the Detroit Tigers.

The former LSU pitcher went 12-2 last season to go with a 1.69 ERA. He also took home College World Series Most Outstanding Player honors after helping the Tigers take down Florida to win the school's seventh title. Skenes' teammate Dylan Crews, who went No. 2 overall to the Washington Nationals, has not signed his deal yet.