Before the Pittsburgh Pirates took him with the first overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, Paul Skenes dazzled with breathtaking performances for an LSU machine that rolled to that year's College World Series title. With his eye-popping radar gun numbers and ability to overpower opposing lineups, collectors eagerly awaited his earliest card appearances with levels of anticipation usually reserved for big-time sluggers.
Since the Pirates called him up in May, Skenes has quickly transitioned from prospect to full-fledged star – All Star, in fact. After blowing away batters in his first 11 starts, Skenes became the first rookie to start the Midsummer Classic in nearly 30 years. And as the phenom continues racking up Ks, collectors continue hunting his marquee cards. In the baseball world, few rookies command as much reverence and attention as a player's 1st Bowman, much less the hallowed Superfractor version. Presented here in a PSA 10 holder, Skenes' Bowman Chrome Draft Superfractor rookie is the gold standard of cards featuring the prolific Pirates hurler.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 08/02/2024.
