Pirates’ Battery Makes History vs. Nationals

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ battery consisting of Paul Skenes and Henry Davis made some history on Monday night against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.

According to Sarah Langs on Twitter/X, Skenes and Davis became the first battery consisting of first-overall picks in MLB history.

Henry Davis and Paul Skenes are the first-ever battery of No. 1 overall draft picks pic.twitter.com/wqtvZuUfX6

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 14, 2025

The Pirates took Davis with the first pick in the 2021 draft out of Louisville and chose Skenes with the top pick in 2023 out of LSU.

Davis was not in the Pirates’ original starting lineup on Monday night but replaced Endy Rodríguez in the top of the first inning. Rodríguez exited after a pitch that hit off the foot of Nationals left fielder James Wood clipped his throwing hand. No injury update has been provided on Rodríguez as of yet.

Skenes is in his second season with the Pirates and was named the 2023 Rookie of the Year after going 11-4 with a 1.96 ERA. Entering play on Monday night, Skenes went 1-1 with a 3.44 ERA through his first three starts of 2025.

Davis, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, collected his first hit of the season with a single to right field off Nationals starter Brad Lord.

The 25-year-old appeared in 99 games with the Pirates from 2023-24 and carried a .191/.283/.307 batting line with 14 doubles, eight home runs and 29 RBIs.