Paul Skenes is selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 1 overall pick in MLB’s 2023 Draft 

Top pitching prospect Paul Skenes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft Sunday night. 

Skenes spent the last six months lighting radar guns with impressive fastballs, making a compelling case that he’s the most major-league-ready college pitcher since Stephen Strasburg more than a decade ago. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates won baseball’s first draft lottery in December, granting them the first pick of the eligible amateurs Sunday night. 

Skenes was the first college pitcher selection No. 1 overall since Casey Mize by Detroit in 2018.

For the second time in three years, the Pirates held the top overall selection after picking catcher Henry Davis at the top of the 2021 draft. Davis made his major league debut last month for Pittsburgh.

Top pitching prospect Paul Skenes was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 1 pick 

Skenes was the first college pitcher selection No. 1 overall since Casey Mize by Detroit in 2018

After spending the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Air Force, Skenes shined during his time with the Tigers, going 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA in 19 starts in 2023. 

He was named National Player of the Year and National Pitcher of the Year before helping LSU prevail at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., where he earned CWS Most Outstanding Player honors.

In addition to his time with the Tigers and Falcons, Skenes also played for the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2021.

Skenes’ slot value is expected to be about $9.7 million.

It seemed to be a debate between Skenes and his LSU teammate, Dylan Crews, for the top pick. 

But Crews, who hit .426 with 18 home runs while playing center field for the Tigers, didn’t have to wait long. 

The Washington Nationals selected second after finishing the 2022 season with the worst record in the majors at 55-107. 

And Skenes was swiftly joined by his college teammate as the Nationals used their No. 2 pick to make it a LSU 1-2 start to the draft. 

The Detroit Tigers chose third, selecting high-school outfielder Max Clark. 

More to follow.