Paul Skenes 'grateful' after going No. 1 in the 2023 MLB Draft

LSU RHP Paul Skenes made his case as the best pitcher and best player in college baseball this past season. That has now translated in the 2023 MLB Draft as he went No. 1 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this evening.

In an interview with ESPN after the selection, all Skenes could do was express his gratitude for the moment. He sees his career as an entire journey to this point. Now, as he heads to Pittsburgh, he’s excited for that journey to continue at the next level.

“I’m just grateful for the opportunity, grateful for everything that’s happened to put me in this position, and looking forward to the ride ahead,” Skenes said.

“I think just the whole time it’s been a journey,” said Skenes. “Taking it one day at a time, trying to get better every day, going out there and competing. It’s been awesome. I’ve loved it along the way the whole time. Just is grateful to be in this position.”

From there, Skenes admitted that being the top selection is a “cool” designation to have. Even so, he sees making it to the MLB as the bigger achievement as he has made a career, and will continue to do so, out of playing baseball.

“It’s cool. But I think the biggest part is that my college career is over now and I get to keep playing baseball and hopefully do it for a long time. So I’m just super grateful for that.”

More on the 2023 MLB Draft

The 2023 Major League Baseball Draft will begin during All-Star week, with the first two rounds getting underway at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 9. Rounds 3-10 will then begin at 2 p.m. ET on Monday, July 10, with rounds 11-20 starting at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 11.

This year’s MLB Draft is a historic one, as a draft lottery was used to determine the order for the first time. The Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics each had a 16.5% chance to receive the No. 1 overall pick. Ultimately, Pittsburgh won the right to have the first selection, with Washington finishing right behind them at No. 2. Oakland, however, fell all the way down to No. 6 overall.

Within the first ten rounds of the draft, each slot is assigned a certain value. Each team has a bonus pool that they are able to spend on these picks, and players will sign at, above or below their assigned slot value.

In rounds 11-20, there is no assigned slot value. MLB teams are free to spend up to $150,000 to sign their picks from the second half of the draft. If they exceed the $150,000 mark, that added amount will be deducted from their bonus pool.

Following the final day of the 2023 MLB Draft, selected players will have until August 1 to sign a contract.