Paul Skenes

Paul David Skenes (born May 29, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He played college baseball for the Air Force Falcons and the LSU Tigers. Skenes was born and raised in Orange County, California, where he attended El Toro High School and played three seasons of varsity baseball. Skenes, born into a military family, enrolled in the United States Air Force Academy and played college baseball for the school. In his 2022 sophomore season, he won the John Olerud Award, given annually to the best two-way player. Ahead of his junior season, Skenes departed from the Air Force Academy and transferred to LSU. In his lone season at LSU, Skenes posted a 1.69 earned run average (ERA) and set a single-season school record for strikeouts with 209. He received Southeastern Conference and national pitcher of the year honors as well as the Dick Howser Trophy. Skenes was part of the LSU pitching staff during the team's 2023 Men's College World Series championship win and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Skenes entered the 2023 MLB draft as one of its most anticipated prospects and considered by some as the best pitching prospect since Stephen Strasburg. Skenes was selected first overall by the Pirates and signed to a $9.2 million bonus. Dylan Crews was selected next, making the pair the first college teammates to be drafted first and second overall.