He enters Omaha with an astonishing 1.77 ERA across 17 starts, having punched out 188 (!!!) batters to just 18 free passes. Under the tutelage of renowned LSU pitching coach Wes Johnson, Skenes has authored one of the most dominant starting pitching seasons in D-I history. It was time for Skenes to focus on being the best pitcher in America.Īnd that he was. We’ve seen our fair share of two-way sensations at the D-I level in recent years, but Skenes’ skills on the mound were too overwhelming to ignore or distract from. By the end of the fall, though, it was clear he wouldn’t be picking up a bat at all come spring. It’s borderline impossible to believe that just a year ago, this behemoth of baseball talent was at the Air Force Academy as a two-way player - and not just any two-way player Skenes suited up as a catcher! When Skenes arrived on campus via the transfer portal last summer, headlines hailed the Tigers’ acquisition of such tantalizing two-way talent, one who had hit. This is maybe the hardest-throwing starting pitcher college baseball has ever seen. Then he throws a pitch, and you quickly realize this isn’t just any power pitcher. Before his delivery even commences, you can already sense that Skenes personifies what it means to be a power pitcher. At 6-foot-6, 247 pounds, Skenes exemplifies mound presence to an extreme degree. The first thing that stands out when you watch Skenes is simple: he’s enormous. RHP Paul Skenes - Louisiana State University Overall, you’d be hard pressed to find a more well-rounded player who offers both a safe floor and superstar-level upside. Crews has a decent chance to stick in center field, but even if he slides over to right, no one has any doubt that the bat will play. If there’s one thing to nitpick, it’s that Crews hits the ball on the ground a considerable amount for someone with his power, but that feels like something he’ll have the ability to improve upon in pro ball when given the time and space to meticulously craft his best possible swing to maximize his elite approach. But just watch him for one game and you’ll quickly understand why fans, coaches, and MLB evaluators are smitten with his ability and future potential. At an even 6-feet and 200 pounds, Crews doesn’t jump off the screen on physicality alone. Instead, Crews withdrew his name from the 2020 MLB Draft and followed his dream to play at powerhouse LSU, where he quickly became one of the most feared and respected hitters the D-I level has ever seen. In another timeline, Crews signs with some lucky team as a celebrated high-school hitter in 2020 and rockets through the minors as one of the game’s best prospects, perhaps even reaching the majors in 2023 like one of his peers on the showcase circuit, Jordan Walker. OF Dylan Crews - Louisiana State University So, who should you expect to hear their names early on Draft night in Seattle on July 9? Here’s a look at my top 30 prospects for the 2023 MLB Draft:ġ. Next week, the third annual MLB Draft Combine will commence at Chase Field in Arizona, with many of the top college and high school players participating in interviews and workouts for all 30 MLB teams. One of the easiest ways to familiarize yourself with some of these players would be to tune in to the D-I Men’s College World Series, which begins this Friday in Omaha and features a healthy number of players on these rankings competing for a national championship. The 2023 MLB Draft is less than a month away, which means now is a great time to learn about the latest crop of talented amateur players about to enter the pro ranks.
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