PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Almost every college coach is going to praise their former player, especially one that went first overall in the MLB Draft. It’s what his two college coaches say about Paul Skenes that is unique.
LSU head coach Jay Johnson is a multiple time coach of the year. He’s coached numbers of All-Americans including superstar Kris Bryant, along with Skenes teammate Dylan Crews.
Johnson told Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan on Thursday.
“I don’t think there has ever been a player that’s had a more positive impact on my life and career than him,” Johnson said on 93.7 The Fan. “Not just because of the player, but the type of person he is.”
“The excitement in Pittsburgh is warranted. He’s a special player and a special human being.”
Johnson said he’s the most put together, highest character, most intentful player he’s ever coach. He said what separates Skenes from other players with great talent is the thoughtfulness of what he does and how he prepares. Johnson said he’s sure before he got to Pittsburgh he had studied the Cubs lineup before he even meets with the coaches about Saturday’s debut against Chicago.
The man who coached him to a national championship said Skenes is always about getting better. As great as he was, no matter the outcome of the previous start, he was focused on improving.
Skenes transferred to LSU from the Air Force Academy. An All-American with the Falcons, his head coach Mike Kazlausky told Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan that Skenes cried when he went to his office to suggest he probably would need to transfer to get where he wanted to go professionally. Kazlausky agreed with him, but that conversation showed the loyalty and accountability of the then 19-year-old.
Kazlausky’s relationship with Skenes goes way back when Skenes attended a prospect camp when he was a freshman in high school when he was a skinny, 5’9” catcher. By the time he committed to join the Air Force Academy he was 6’4” and had gained a few pounds.
Skenes started college as a primary catcher and he would call his own game, as a freshman. The coaches had that much trust in him, he called the pitches for the starter. Quickly into the season, they started using him as a closer. Kazlausky remembers a game against LSU when he caught eight innings and then came in and closed the game throwing 98 mile-an-hour fastballs. He said he knew he had something special.
Eventually Skenes would be the Friday night pitcher (where you slot your ace in college), catch on Saturday and then be the designated hitter on Sundays. Kazlausky told 93.7 The Fan that everyone at the Air Force is a leader, but Skenes was a leader of the school and believed he was the only sophomore captain in the history of the baseball program.
Kazlausky remembers a story after US military lives were lost in Afghanistan. At 4:45p daily they would play ‘retreat’ and the flag would be lowered and the National Anthem would play.
“Where the baseball field lies, we oversee where the flag is and we oversee where the football practice is happening,” Kazlausky said on the Joe Starkey Show on 93.7 The Fan. “At 1645, they play ‘retreat’. The baseball players are all at position of attention and staring at the flag. We see two football managers in an open-air video booth and they are not quite at position of attention.”
“The National Anthem is over, Skenes immediately races up the hill and confronts these two cadets at our school and says ‘we just lost 13 Americans over in Afghanistan stand at freakin’ proper position of attention’. Maybe said some other words as well. That’s the type of person Paul is. He takes it upon himself to get the job done right.”
He called Skenes ‘a true All American’.
“You have a better man than baseball player,” Kazlausky told 93.7 The Fan. “You guys have a true, genuine, wholesome young man that wants to succeed at everything and will be loyal to the Pirates.
He is just an awesome person.”
It’s the stuff beyond the 100 miles-an-hour stuff. That’s what his college coaches say make Paul Skenes great.