Paul Skenes' Start Is Great, But Dylan Bundy's Was Even Better

Image credit: Paul Skenes (Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)

Paul Skenes was once again in complete control on Thursday. The Pirates’ righthander allowed one hit while striking out eight of the 14 batters he faced in 3.1 innings.

Skenes has now made four abbreviated Triple-A starts so far this season. He’s yet to allow a run in 12.2 innings. He’s allowed five hits and four walks while striking out 27 of the 47 batters he’s faced.

It seems as if Triple-A hitters are providing no challenge to Skenes so far. And that leads to an interesting question: just how uncommon is Skenes’ utter domination?

Here’s a look at some other highly drafted pitchers who have dominated in the minors early in their pro careers in the 21st century.

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1. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Orioles

Bundy was viewed as one of the best pitching prospects to come out of high school in years when the Orioles selected him in the 2011 draft. The Orioles decided to limit Bundy to three innings per start early in his first pro season in Low-A, no matter how well he pitched.

He pitched really, really well.

In his first start, he threw three perfect innings striking out six of the nine batters he faced. In his second, he did exactly the same thing. He finally allowed a baserunner in his third start, walking a hitter while throwing three hitless innings and striking out three.

It’s hard to describe how anticipated a Bundy start was by this point if you didn’t experience it. He’d thrown nine no-hit innings over his first three starts while showing jaw-dropping stuff. He’d faced one over the minimum.

The Orioles let Bundy throw four innings in his fourth start. He continued his hitless streak, striking out six while throwing four perfect innings. At this point, Bundy had thrown 13 innings. He’d allowed one baserunner (a walk) and no hits while striking out 21 of the 40 batters he’d faced.

Bundy finally allowed a hit (a Delta Cleary single) to start his fifth MiLB start. He then proceeded to retire the next 12 batters he faced before the Orioles pulled him. Bundy allowed one hit and one unearned run (his first) in his sixth start. He was promoted to High-A Frederick with a 0.00 ERA in 30 innings for Delmarva.

Bundy was still excellent, but less overpowering for Frederick and Double-A Bowie. He went 9-3, 2.08 with 67 hits allowed, 119 strikeouts and 28 walks between those three levels, but that first eight starts with Delmarva were truly special.

2. Justin Verlander, RHP, Tigers

It’s easy to forget that Verlander wasn’t seen as a sure bet coming out of college. The Padres selected Matt Bush instead of Verlander. But Verlander quickly showed the Tigers and the industry how good he could be.

Verlander went 11-2, 1.29 in 20 starts and 118.2 innings between High-A Lakeland and Double-A Erie. With Erie, Verlander was 2-0, 0.28 in seven starts. An Eric Duncan solo home run is the only run he allowed during that stretch before he jumped to Detroit. It’s arguably the most effective MiLB season by any pitcher in the 21st century.

3. Tim Lincecum, RHP, Giants

Linceum was a divisive propect in the 2006 draft. His mechanics were unconventional. He seemed … quirky.

It took just a couple of starts to prove that nine teams were wrong. There was no way Lincecum should have lasted until the 10th pick. Lincecum struck out 58 of the 122 batters he faced in 2006 while allowing 14 hits in 31.2 innings. He posted a 1.71 ERA.

He was even better to start 2007 with Triple-A Fresno. Lincecum allowed only one run in 31 innings over five starts. His 0.29 ERA barely registered. The only run he allowed came in a game where he threw six hitless innings. Lincecum walked Jamie D’Antona, then hit the next batter. A wild pitch advanced D’Antona to third and he scored on a sac fly.

That’s the only run he allowed. He allowed nine singles and three doubles over those 31 innings while striking out 46 and walking 11. Lincecum made it to San Francisco by May. He was winning his first of back-to-back Cy Young’s just a year later.

4. Stephen Strasburg, RHP, Nationals

Strasburg was the most hyped and most anticipated pitching prospect of a generation, and he lived up to everything the Nationals hoped for in the minors.

Strasburg allowed four runs in five innings in his pro debut before a sellout crowd at Altoona on April 11. He didn’t allow an earned run in six of his next seven starts. He ended up going 7-2, 1.30 in 11 MiLB starts before making his MLB debut on June 8.

5. Jose Fernandez, RHP, Marlins

Technically, Fernandez’s pro debut was unimpressive. In 4.1 innings over two starts in 2011, Fernandez allowed 10 base runners and a 10.38 ERA. But in his first full season, Fernandez outshone Gerrit Cole in the same league, even though he was a couple of years younger.

Fernandez went 14-1, 1.75 in 2012. He threw six hitless innings for Low-A Greensboro in his fourth start of the season and was promoted after throwing 24 consecutive scoreless innings over a four start stretch for the Grasshoppers. Promoted to High-A Jupiter, Fernandez needed a couple of starts to settle in, but he allowed just two runs in 35 innings over his final seven starts.

6. Mark Prior, RHP, Cubs

Prior was considered the best pitching prospect in baseball in years when the Cubs picked him with the second pick in the 2001 draft.

Prior went 4-1, 2.60 at Double-A West Tennessee and 1-1, 1.65 with Triple-A Iowa before being promoted to the majors. That may seem modest, but Prior’s 36% strikeout rate and 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings were both exceptional for the time.