Pirates select LSU pitcher Paul Skenes with No. 1 overall pick in MLB Draft
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The Pittsburgh Pirates selected LSU right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes with the first overall pick in the MLB Draft on Sunday night in Seattle.
It was the sixth time in franchise history the Pirates had No. 1 pick, which they received after winning the inaugural draft lottery.
It’s the fourth time the Pirates used the first overall pick on a right-hander, as Skenes joins Kris Benson (1996), Bryan Bullington (2002) and Gerrit Cole (2011).
Skenes earned Most Outstanding Player honors at the College World Series after leading the Tigers to their seventh national championship.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder features a fastball that tops 100 mph, a high-spin slider and a changeup in his pitch repertoire. Skenes went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 122 2/3 innings over 19 starts, with 209 strikeouts against 20 walks this past season.
Skenes transferred from Air Force, where he also was a catcher who batted .314/.412/.634 with 10 doubles, 13 homers and 38 RBIs in winning the John Olerud Award as college baseball’s best two-way player at Air Force in 2022.
Source: TribLIVE
