The Pittsburgh Pirates made history in the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft by selecting top pitching prospect Paul Skenes with the No. 1 pick. Alongside his LSU teammate Drew Crews, Skenes has been turning heads with his impressive fastball, establishing himself as the most major-league-ready college pitcher since Stephen Strasburg over a decade ago. In December, the Pirates won baseball’s first draft lottery, granting them the coveted first pick of the eligible amateurs.
This selection marks the first time a college pitcher has been chosen No. 1 overall since Casey Mize by the Detroit Tigers in 2018. The Pirates, who also held the top overall selection in 2021, chose catcher Henry Davis at that time. Davis recently made his major league debut for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh’s general manager, Ben Cherington, praised Skenes’ exceptional performance at LSU, stating, “He had an incredibly special season… It´s a really special combination of pitches and just as much about the mix and command than any one pitch.” Skenes’ collegiate career began at Air Force before he transferred to LSU, where he achieved an impressive 12-2 record with a 1.69 ERA in 19 starts in 2023. His outstanding performance earned him the titles of National Player of the Year and National Pitcher of the Year. Skenes played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2021.
It is projected that Skenes’ slot value will be around $9.7 million. Cherington expressed hope for a swift agreement, allowing Skenes to potentially pitch within the Pirates organization in 2023. However, Cherington emphasized the importance of considering Skenes’ schedule and progression, as he will need time to adjust after his last World Series appearance.
Initially, it seemed like the top pick would be a debate between Skenes and his LSU teammate Dylan Crews. However, Crews didn’t have to wait long to be selected. The Washington Nationals, with the second pick after finishing the 2022 season with the worst record in the majors, swiftly picked Crews, making it an LSU 1-2 start to the draft. Crews exhibited a remarkable season, hitting .426 with 18 home runs and showcasing his skills as a center fielder. He concluded his college career by reaching base in each of his final 75 college games. Crews is the first college position player taken by Washington with its first pick since Anthony Rendon in 2011.
Skenes and Crews have etched their names in draft history as the first pair of teammates to be selected 1-2. The Detroit Tigers subsequently selected high school outfielder Max Clark, followed by Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford going to Texas, and high school outfielder Walker Jenkins being picked by Minnesota. Other notable selections include college shortstop Jacob Wilson by Oakland, Rhett Lowder, a right-hander from Wake Forest, by Cincinnati, and high school catcher Blake Mitchell from Sinton, Texas, chosen by Kansas City. The draft’s top 10 concluded with Miami selecting high school righty Noble Meyer from Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon.
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