LSU baseball HC Jay Johnson makes his opinion clear about Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes
Under HC Jay Johnson, Paul Skenes evolved as one of the best players in LSU Tigers history. He was one of the key players in the Tigers' incredible 2023 season which saw them win the College World Series for the 7th time in program history.
Johnson complimented Skenes' talent with a powerful statement. Per ESPN's Marty Smith, the Tigers Head Coach believes Skenes would have been just as successful if he served the Tigers as a hitter.
"If we'd had him hit for us (at LSU), he would have hit 25 home runs last year," said Johnson.
Paul Skenes produced one of the greatest NCAA Baseball seasons in 2023
After two strong seasons at Air Force, Paul Skenes transferred to LSU to represent the Tigers. He produced one of the best seasons ever seen not just in Tigers history, but NCAA Baseball history as well.
He recorded 209 strikeouts with an ERA of just 1.69 in 122.2 innings pitched. The most incredible statistic is that he achieved these numbers in just 19 games, finishing the season with a comprehensive 13-2 record.
While he helped the Tigers win the College World Series, his remarkable performances from the mound saw him win several individual accolades. He won the Dick Howser Trophy and the National Player of the Year while earning Consensus First-Team All-American honors. He was also the top-ranked prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft.
After winning the first-ever MLB Draft Lottery in December 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates cashed in by making Skenes the top pick of the 2023 draft. This made him only the second player after Ben McDonald to become the top overall pick of the MLB Draft.
He raced through the minor leagues, reaching Triple-A status by the start of the 2024 season. In May, the Pirates announced Skenes would be a part of their major league roster, and the Tigers alum has not disappointed this season.
In 11 games played, he has an incredible 6-0 record while recording 89 strikeouts with an ERA of 1.90. His contributions to the Pirates have been immense, and they are in contention for the NL Central. They are currently 47-48 in the season and are 6.5 games behind the leaders, the Milwaukee Brewers.