The Pittsburgh Pirates selected LSU right-hander Paul Skenes as the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft 2023 on Sunday night in Seattle.
Skenes, who led the Tigers to the NCAA championship this year, is the first pitcher to be taken first overall since Casey Mize in 2018. He is also the first LSU player to be drafted No. 1, and the sixth player in Pirates history to receive that honor.
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Skenes posted a 12-2 record and a 2.34 ERA in 18 starts for LSU this season, striking out 156 batters and walking only 28 in 115 innings. He also hit .333 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs as a designated hitter, showcasing his two-way potential.
Skenes has a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball that can touch 98 mph, a slider that is his best secondary pitch, a curveball and a changeup. He also has excellent command and poise on the mound.
The Pirates, who won the first MLB draft lottery in December, had a $9,026,300 bonus pool for their first pick. Skenes was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the draft by MLB.com and Baseball America.
The Washington Nationals picked Skenes’ LSU teammate Dylan Crews, an outfielder, with the second overall pick. Crews hit .362 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs for the Tigers this year, and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series.
Crews and Skenes became the first teammates to be drafted with the first two picks in MLB history, topping a list of top-10 pairs that includes Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer (2011), Alex Bregman and Carson Fulmer (2015) and Adley Rutschman and Andrew Vaughn (2019).
The Oakland A’s took Vanderbilt center fielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. with the third pick. Bradfield led the nation with 51 stolen bases this season, and also hit .359 with a .473 on-base percentage. He is considered one of the fastest and most athletic players in the draft.
The Detroit Tigers picked Texas high school shortstop Jordan Lawlar with the fourth pick. Lawlar is a five-tool player who has drawn comparisons to Carlos Correa and Bobby Witt Jr. He hit .412 with six home runs and 37 RBIs for Jesuit College Prep this year.
The Texas Rangers rounded out the top five by selecting Florida high school outfielder Jay Allen. Allen is another two-sport star who excelled in football as a quarterback. He has a strong arm, good speed and raw power at the plate.
