Paul Skenes promoted: Who is the best pitching prospect yet to make his MLB debut? Cade Horton and more

Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in last summer’s draft and the game’s consensus top pitching prospect, will make his big-league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. (We here at CBS Sports recently analyzed Skenes in greater depth, offering insight into his arsenal and his upside.) He’ll reach the majors following a 12-start introduction to the pros that saw him compile a 1.85 ERA and a 5.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 34 innings and four levels.

Skenes’ arrival means that it’s time to focus on the important questions at hand. Like, say, who now is the best pitching prospect yet to make their big-league debut? Below, CBS Sports has highlighted five candidates for the title, as well as five honorable mentions. As always, keep in mind that these exercises are more of an art than a science and that everyone has their evaluative predilections. 

With that out of the way, let’s get to it.

Horton, the seventh pick in the 2022 draft, recently received a promotion to Triple-A. It was well-deserved: he compiled a 1.10 ERA and a 9.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four Double-A starts. His arsenal is led by a low-to-mid 90s fastball with natural cutting action and a slider that grades as his best pitch. If there’s one factor working against Horton impacting this year’s Cubs squad, it’s workload concerns. He hasn’t thrown more than 88 innings in a season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021. The Cubs would be justified in maintaining their conservative approach here. Given that he’s already over 20 frames, that could result in fewer big-league appearances — or, perhaps, fewer starts — than his talent and his performance merit.

Jobe, the third pick in the 2021 draft, had accumulated a 2.16 ERA and a 2.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio across five Double-A starts before injuring his hamstring last time out. He was on a particularly torrid stretch at the time, having not surrendered a hit in his last seven-plus innings thanks to a high-grade  arsenal. Jobe’s ascent hinges on when, precisely, he returns from the shelf. If it’s sooner than later, it’s at least plausible that he debuts this year. If he requires a lengthier stay, he’ll probably have to wait until 2025 to get his first sip of Comerica Park clubhouse coffee.

Lowder, the second pitcher off the board last summer, has proven unbothered by a debuting assignment to High-A. Across five starts he’s…