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LSU’s pitcher Paul Skenes, known for his fastball exceeding 100 mph, has the potential to be chosen as the top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Photo by Jacob Reeder/LSU Athletics
July 6 (UPI) — The Pittsburgh Pirates face a pivotal decision for the top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, considering two standout players from LSU’s College World Series-winning team: Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews. The draft takes place in Seattle on Sunday.
The ESPN and MLB Network will feature the first and second-round coverage at 7 p.m. EDT. The Washington Nationals have the second pick, while the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, and Minnesota Twins are among the other teams with top picks.
At 21 years old, Crews is the favored choice to be chosen as the number one pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. This junior outfielder holds the second position in MLB.com’s prospect rankings, with Skenes leading the pack.
Crews and Skenes have the chance to make history by becoming the first teammates ever to be selected as the first two picks in an MLB Draft.
“Honestly, everything about him is just big league,” Skenes shared with MLB.com, referring to Crews. “That dude, whether he knows it or not, or tries to or not, is a leader. He uplifts everyone around him every single day, and that’s an amazing quality to have in a teammate.”
In 2023, Crews achieved a batting average of .426, which was the third-highest in college baseball. He led the nation with 71 walks and 100 runs. Crews ranked second with 110 hits and a .567 on-base percentage. Additionally, he hit 18 home runs and had 70 RBIs in 71 games for the Tigers.
Crews is the recipient of the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, recognizing him as the best amateur baseball player in the United States.
The scouting reports highlight Crews as the top pure hitter in the draft class, with stellar ratings as a runner and power hitter. Interestingly, the Pirates currently lack a single pure outfielder among their top 12 prospects.
The Washington Nationals have struggled with their pitching in recent seasons, reflecting in their poor ERA. Cade Cavalli is the only pitcher within the Nationals’ top 5 prospects.
Skenes, also 21, impressed with a remarkable 1.69 ERA, which was the second-best in the nation in terms of innings pitched (122 2/3) last season. He yielded just 5.28 hits per nine innings, ranking fifth overall. Skenes achieved an impressive 209 strikeouts in total, averaging 15.33 per nine innings, the highest in college baseball.
Notably, Skenes (12-2) won multiple Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year honors, along with the College World Series Most Outstanding Player Award.
According to various MLB scouts, Crews stands out not only as the best prospect in this class but also as one of the top prospects in recent memory.
This 6-foot-6 right-handed pitcher possesses a fastball capable of exceeding 100 mph, complemented by a strong changeup and slider.
Scouts further believe that Skenes would have been the top pick if Crews were not part of the same draft class.
Other top prospects in the class include outfielders Wyatt Langford from Florida, Walker Jenkins from South Brunswick High School, and Max Clark from Franklin High School.
Pitchers Chase Dollander from Tennessee, Rhett Lowder from Wake Forest, and shortstops Jacob Wilson from Grand Canyon and Arjun Nimmala from Strawberry Crest High School are among the players being considered for the first round.
In the 2022 season, Langford recorded 21 home runs and tied for the most doubles in the nation with 28 in 64 games for the Gators. He achieved a .498 on-base percentage, scored 83 runs (fourth-most in college baseball), and obtained 185 total bases, ranking seventh overall.
During the World Series finals against the Tigers, Langford hit .538 with two home runs, three doubles, and eight RBIs. He only struck out once and reached base nine times in 15 plate appearances against the impressive Tigers pitching staff led by Skenes.
Reflecting on his journey, Langford shared during an appearance on MLB Network, “The last couple of days, I’ve honestly just been trying to relax. It has been so crazy going through the season. I’ve just been trying to relax, but things will probably get going pretty soon.”
MLB.com will provide coverage of the MLB Draft from the third to the tenth round at 2 p.m. EDT on Monday. The eleventh through twentieth rounds will follow at 2 p.m. on MLB.com.
