Pirates Draft LSU Ace Paul Skenes With No. 1 Pick In 2023 Draft

Image credit: Paul Skenes (Photo by Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

SEATTLE — The Pirates had their choice of premium talents with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.

Ultimately, a potential future ace was too good to pass up.

The Pirates selected Louisiana State righthander Paul Skenes with the first overall pick in the 2023 draft on Sunday afternoon at Lumen Field, adding one of the best college pitchers in a decade to their organization.

Skenes, a 6-foot-6, 247-pound righthander, went 13-2, 1.69 with a Southeastern Conference-record 209 strikeouts and 20 walks in 122.2 innings to lead the Tigers to the College World Series championship this spring. He won the CWS Most Outstanding Player Award after allowing two runs in 15.2 innings over two starts in Omaha and was named the 2023 Baseball America College Player of the Year.

“We wanted the player who we thought would help the Pirates win the most games over time,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “That’s what we always go back to. We’ve taken college players three out of four years that I’ve been here, but it’s always focused on the best player. We’re excited and thrilled to have Paul join the Pirates.”

A big, physical workhorse with an upper-90s fastball, Skenes drew frequent comparisons to previous college aces Stephen Strasburg and Gerrit Cole, both of whom were selected first overall in their drafts in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Skenes led the nation in strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings (15.33) and WHIP (0.75) and finished second in ERA and innings pitched. His 209 strikeouts were the most of any college pitcher since Long Beach State’s Jered Weaver struck out 213 batters in 2004.

“A year ago, two years ago, I never thought it was a possibility to be the first overall pick,” Skenes said. “I don’t know what I was expecting coming into today, but I’m looking forward to what’s to come and hopefully winning a World Series or two in Pittsburgh.”

The Lake Forest, Calif. native played his first two seasons at Air Force and starred while playing both ways as a pitcher and catcher/designated hitter. He transferred to LSU for his junior season and focused solely on pitching, leading to his dominant season.

Skenes allowed more than two earned runs just twice all season for LSU and struck out at least 10 batters in 14 of his 19 starts. He saved his best for the biggest moments.

Skenes pitched 7.2 innings with two runs allowed and 12 strikeouts in LSU’s CWS opener against Tennessee. He pitched eight scoreless innings with two hits allowed and nine strikeouts in an elimination game against top-seeded Wake Forest to send the Tigers to the CWS finals.

“I think we saw a really good pitcher at the end of the College World Series who has all the weapons to go on and succeed in pro ball but may still have more,” Cherington said. “I know he’s already thinking about that.”

Skenes is the 14th righthanded pitcher to be selected first overall and the first since the Tigers selected Auburn righthander Casey Mize with the first pick in 2018.

Mize, Cole and Strasburg all reached the majors within two years of being drafted, quick ascents that Skenes is expected to follow.

“I think my stuff is big league ready, but to be honest not being in professional baseball yet, there’s some stuff I’m going to have to figure out along the way,” Skenes said. “My goal is to be in the big leagues as long as possible and as soon as possible, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to accomplish that.”

The Nationals selected LSU outfielder Dylan Crews with the second overall pick. The selection marked the first time two teammates were taken with the top two picks in the same draft.

“It says that we have the right people and that coach (Jay) Johnson did a good job bringing the right people in to the building,” Skenes said. “I think it’s going to be a pattern of success for LSU baseball.”

Crews hit .426/.567/.713 with 18 home runs and 70 RBI as the Tigers’ top hitter and won the Golden Spikes Award. He was a two-time All-American and became the first player to win back-to-back SEC player of the year awards.

“There’s a lot of emotions going on right now,” Crews said. “I’m so thankful and I can’t wait to get going. I know (Washington) is such a great organization with great player development, so I am really looking forward to growing. But, I am going to go in there the same person that I am. I’m just ready to grow with these guys.”

The Tigers selected Franklin (Ind.) Community High outfielder Max Clark with the third overall pick. Clark won BA’s 2023 High School Player of the Year Award after batting .646 with six home runs, 33 RBIs, 45 runs scored and a state-record 52 walks in 120 plate appearances this spring.

“Early on we established a really good personal connection,” Clark said. “They visited during the winter at where I work out in the offseason. I didn’t know how it was going to go down until the final 10 minutes before I was selected.”

The Rangers selected Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford with the fourth overall pick and the Twins drafted South Brunswick (Southport, N.C) High outfielder Walker Jenkins with the fifth overall pick.

The A’s drafted Grand Canyon shortstop Jacob Wilson, the son of former all-star shortstop Jack Wilson, with the sixth overall pick. The Reds took Wake Forest righthander Rhett Lowder with the seventh overall selection.

The Giants selected Virginia prep Bryce Eldridge with the 16th overall pick and announced him as a two-way player. Eldridge, a 6-foot-7 righthanded hitter and pitcher, is a power-hitting first baseman and has touched 96 mph on the mound. It’s the second straight year the Giants announced their first-round pick as a two-way player after doing the same with 30th overall pick Reggie Crawford last year.

The Rays selected Texas Christian third baseman Brayden Taylor with the 19th overall pick but announced him as a shortstop. Taylor played third base exclusively for TCU this spring and only played three out of his 120 career games at shortstop.

The Mariners had three of the top 30 picks and chose high school position players with all of them. The Mariners drafted John Glenn (New Concord, Ohio) High shortstop Colt Emerson with the 22nd pick, Westfield (Chantilly, Va.) High outfielder Johnny Farmelo with the 29th pick and Trinity Christian (Sharpsburg, Ga.) High shortstop Tai Peete with the 30th pick.