2023 College World Series: Top 10 MLB Draft prospects to watch in Omaha include Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews

2023 College World Series: MLB Draft prospects to watch

Crews began the year as the frontrunner to go number one overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he's done nothing to change that so far this season. The 6'0, 205-pounder set a school freshman record with 18 homers back in 2021 and has just kept on mashing since, hitting .420 with 15 home runs and 59 RBI this season while playing solid defense in center field. He's not the fastest guy out there, but he can steal the occasional base, and he squares the ball up more regularly than just about anyone in the college ranks – with a real shot at 70-grade hit and power tools. Pittsburgh may not take him 1-1 – they may opt to take the top prospect with the lowest signing bonus demand and spread those savings to the rest of their draft class – but he's the best bet to become an impact pro.

Yes, the Tigers has arguably the best bat and arm in this draft class – with a real shot to go 1-2 overall. The most dominant pitcher in college baseball this year, Skenes was a highly-coveted transfer after dominating as a two-way player at Air Force, and though he's focused strictly on pitching this season at LSU, he's lived up to the hype and then some. Boasting a fastball that can touch triple-digits at times, Skenes has put up a 1.89 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP in the toughest conference in the country – he's an eminently justifiable choice for the The most dominant pitcher in college baseball this year, Skenes and teammate Dylan Crews have a real shot at going 1-2 in the draft. The righty was a highly-coveted transfer after dominating as a two-way player at Air Force, and though he's focused strictly on pitching this season at LSU, he's lived up to the hype and then some. Boasting a fastball that can touch triple-digits at times, Skenes has put up a 1 .89 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP in the toughest conference in the country, striking out a whopping 48% of SEC batters. He's an eminently justifiable choice for the Pirates at No. 1 overall if the team decides it wants a pitcher rather than a position player, and probably the leader in the clubhouse to go to the Washington Nationals at No. 2.

Paul Skenes, 99mph ?? pic.twitter.com/yM5wqs976u

– Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 25, 2023

  
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