PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Pirates have had mixed reviews with taking starting pitchers first overall, with the first overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft the Pirates selected pitcher Paul Skenes from LSU.
GM Ben Cherington said during his show on 93.7 The Fan and the Pirates Radio Network that Skenes put himself in a strong position in the draft.
“He’s an exciting young pitcher with a bright future ahead of him,” Cherington said.
Skenes started his career at the Air Force Academy, but the coaches convinced him he had an opportunity to chase an opportunity to play in Major League Baseball and needed to transfer. He went from Air Force, where he was a catcher and pitcher and only pitched in his lone season at LSU.
In 50% of his innings at LSU this season, he retired the side in order. He helped lead the Tigers to a national championship going 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA with 209 strikeouts (led NCAA) to 20 walks in 122.2 innings. The 6’6”, 235-pound right-hander had a 0.75 WHIP and often hit 100 miles-an-hour, averaging 98 mph.
Other recent previous first-round pitchers
2011-Gerrit Cole (1st overall)
2006-Brad Lincoln
2003-Paul Maholm
2002-Bryan Bullington (1st overall)
2001-John Van Benschoten
2000-Sean Burnett
1999-Bobby Bradley
1998-Clint Johnson
1996-Kris Benson (1st overall)
Over the last five seasons in the first-round proper, the Pirates have selected
2022-Termarr Johnson-SS
2021-Henry Davis-C
2020-Nick Gonzales-INF
2019-Quinn Priester-RHP