The national champions, LSU, came out on top once again during the First-Year Player Draft at Lumen Field. It was a historic moment as LSU righty Paul Skenes and star outfielder Dylan Crews became the first pair of teammates to be selected 1-2 in the draft. Contrary to expectations, Skenes was chosen first overall by the Pirates, who prioritized his star power and pitching skills over Crews or potential financial considerations.
There were speculations that the Pirates might lean towards Crews or select a slightly lower-ranked prospect like Wyatt Langford from the University of Florida, who would demand a smaller signing bonus. However, the Pirates decided to go with a pitcher who has already made a name for himself. Skenes, a California native who spent his first two collegiate seasons at Air Force before transferring to LSU, impressed with his triple-digit fastball and virtually unhittable slider. In 19 starts, he maintained a remarkable 1.69 ERA and struck out 209 batters in 122 ²/₃ innings. Some even consider him the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg in 2009. He showcased his dominance in the College World Series, where he pitched to a 1.11 ERA and earned the title of the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Skenes became the first pitcher to be taken first overall since 2018, when the Tigers selected Casey Mize.
This was the second time in three years that the Pirates held the top pick, having chosen catcher Henry Davis in 2021. The Washington Nationals, initially expected to select Skenes if he fell to them, opted for his teammate Crews with the second pick. Crews, a talented player from Florida, broke LSU’s freshman home run record with 18 homers and continuously improved throughout his collegiate career. In his final year, he achieved an impressive .426 batting average, a remarkable .567 on-base percentage, and hit 18 home runs in 71 games. These exceptional performances led to him winning the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, recognizing him as the best amateur baseball player in the country.
Completing the top three picks, the Tigers selected high school outfielder Max Clark from Indiana, who had been named Gatorade’s National Baseball Player of the Year. The 18-year-old possesses a range of skills and will need convincing to forgo his commitment to Vanderbilt. The Texas Rangers then selected Langford fourth overall and the Minnesota Twins chose Walker Jenkins, a high school outfielder from North Carolina, with their pick.
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