Paul Skenes, other top prospects who made MLB debuts after short minor league stays

After tossing only 34 innings in the minors, Pittsburgh Pirates young pitching phenom Paul Skenes is set to make his highly anticipated MLB debut Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.

With Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Skenes dazzled, allowing three earned runs across 27.1 innings, striking out 45 and walking eight. 

However, the short stint in the minors before his big-league call-up is unusual. 

Here's how other heralded prospects performed after short stays in the minors: 

Stephen Strasburg | Washington Nationals | Debut: 2010

After the Washington Nationals drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2009, Strasburg made his highly anticipated against the Pirates on June 8, 2010.

In the minors, he threw 55.1 innings, posting a 1.30 ERA, before his call-up one day short of a year after his selection in the MLB Draft.

In a debut for the ages, Strasburg allowed two runs in seven innings and set a Nationals record with 14 strikeouts — one shy of the MLB record for a debut. He did not issue a walk.

Strasburg, who officially retired in April 2024, was plagued by injuries in the big leagues, but the three-time All-Star earned MVP honors in the Nationals' only World Series championship in 2019.

Chris Sale | Chicago White Sox | Debut: 2010

Unlike Strasburg, Sale debuted against the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 6, 2010, the same year he was drafted.

Sale got started in High-A ball, but he quickly moved up to Triple-A after just four one-inning appearances.  

In fact, Sale never tossed more than an inning in any minor league outing before making it to Chicago, racking up only 10.1 innings across 11 appearances. The White Sox called him up for bullpen duty. 

Sale never earned a Cy Young Award, but he earned a World Series ring for the Sox of a different color, with Boston in 2018.

A seven-time All-Star, Sale at one point held an MLB career record for strikeouts per nine innings (11.1). He now pitches for the Braves. 

Position player debuts

While comparing a pitcher to hitters isn't an apples-to-apples comparison, it's worth noting some of the best position players who climbed through the minors more quickly than most. 

Infielder Alex Rodriguez didn't hit the minors the year Seattle drafted him in 1993 — he was only 17 at the time — but he quickly advanced to the majors.

A-Rod made his major league debut against the Red Sox on July 8, 1994, the same season in which he started in the minors. He became the third shortstop since 1900 to play in the majors at the age of 18, as well as the last player so young to make his MLB debut. 

Juan Soto made history in the current era by playing just 122 minor league games — the fewest of any position player prospect since Rodriguez — before his call-up to the majors with Washington in 2018. He was only 19.

The talented outfielder made an impact quickly. Along with Strasburg, he led the Nationals to their only World Series title that season.

Angels first baseman/outfielder Nolan Schanuel had a ridiculously short stint in the minors in 2023.

In just six weeks, he was drafted, sent to the minor leagues and called up to the bigs.

Schanuel had a solid debut, going 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored, and even helped turn a triple play.