It’s not taken LSU stars Paul Skenes, nor Dylan Crews much time to show that they can shine in the professional ranks.
Both LSU standouts – who went 1-2 in the 2023 MLB Draft – have been called up to Double-A – just weeks after making their professional debuts.
Crews is now playing for the Harrisburg Senators in the Washington Nationals organization, while Skenes was called up to the Altoona Curve in the Pittsburgh Pirates system.
Both players have not needed much time to make a big impression. Crews has come into professional baseball raking. In 15 minor league games, he’s hitting .385 with 5 home runs, 24 RBI and a 1.123 OPS. Crews has crushed the ball to all fields and many are speculating that there’s an outside chance the Nationals call him up to the Major League team in September.
Skenes has done the same. The Pirates have limited his innings and have not extended him since he’s made his debut. But in 3 appearances, Skenes has not allowed a run, striking out 5 in 4 innings pitched, allowing just 1 hit. There was speculation when Skenes was picked No. 1 overall that the Pirates would maybe try and prime him for a relief role in the final weeks of the season. But Pittsburgh is no longer in the playoff chase, which makes that scenario now probably less likely.