LSU ace Paul Skenes named 2023 Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year

On Thursday, it was revealed that LSU star pitcher Paul Skenes has been named the 2023 National Player of the Year by the Collegiate Baseball newspaper.

“LSU right-hander Paul Skenes was named Thursday the 2023 National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball newspaper,” read the press release, per LSU Baseball.

“He is the third LSU player to receive the Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year award, joining right-hander Ben McDonald in 1989 and right-hander Lloyd Peever in 1992.”

On the season, Skenes has amassed a 10-2 record with a 1.89 ERA over 90.1 innings, while recording 167 strikeout and only 17 walks. It’s easy to see why he was fit for such an honor.

Additionally, Skenes only trailed the aforementioned McDonald on LSU’s all-time single-season strikeouts list, who beat him out by recording 202 strikeouts in 1989.

Moreover, LSU put the sheer gravity of Skenes’ season into perspective in their press release, detailing his statistics among his peers.

“Skenes is No. 1 in the nation in strikeouts (167), strikeouts per nine innings (16.64) and WHIP (0.79). Skenes is No. 3 in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.82), No. 4 in ERA (1.89) and No. 6 in hits allowed per nine innings (5.38),” wrote LSU Baseball. “He leads the Southeastern Conference in wins (10), strikeouts (167), earned run average (1.89), innings pitched (90.1) and opponent batting average (.166).

“Skenes was voted 2023 SEC Pitcher of the Year on May 22, becoming the first LSU pitcher to win the award since right-hander Aaron Nola in 2013 and 2014.”

As you can see, Paul Skenes has been phenomenal throughout the 2023 season, and deserves the honors being bestowed upon him for his performance.

More on Paul Skenes, LSU Tigers

Continuing, MLB.com evaluators believe the sky is the limit for Paul Skenes, as the LSU Tigers star is being heralded as the best college pitching since Stephen Strasburg.

“After working at 93-95 mph and touching 99 with his fastball as a sophomore, Skenes has averaged 98 mph and hit 102 at LSU, with the flat approach angle and carry on his heater making it almost impossible to hit,” the MLB.com scouting report on Skenes reads. “His slider has improved under the tutelage of Tigers pitching coach Wes Johnson, becoming an 85-89 mph beast with sharp break and absurd swing-and-miss and chase rates. His power changeup arrives at 88-93 mph with fade and is a solid offering when he lands it in the strike zone. 

“Physically imposing at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, Skenes is athletic with the body control to repeat a sound delivery and provide plenty of strikes. A classic No. 1 starter, he’d also factor into the top three rounds as a position player thanks to his huge right-handed power to all fields and projected solid defense at first base.”