LSU teammates make remarkable MLB Draft history

Skenes, a 6-foot-6 flame-throwing right-handed starter, is seen by many as a generational talent. Per ESPN Stats and Info, Skenes is the sixth player and first pitcher to win Most Outstanding Player honors at the MCWS before being selected first overall in the draft. Skenes joins Phil Nevin (1992) as the only other player to accomplish both feats in the same year.

Former general manager Dan O'Dowd says we may not see another pitcher in the draft like Skenes for another "20 years" while adding that he believes he's better than prospect than Gerrit Cole was.

"I think he's better than Gerrit Cole because he's a 6-foot-8 260-pound right-hand starting pitcher with a very good delivery from a very unique arm slot with three-plus pitches," O'Dowd said via MLB Network. "He has command glove side to a 99-100 mph fastball, but he's got command to his arm side of an 88 mph change-up."

Meanwhile, Crews going to No. 2 to the Nationals is anything but a consolation prize. Crews is coming off an incredible 2023 season, where he earned the 2023 Golden Spikes Award while helping lift the Tigers to a banner year. Regarding comparable players, his manager at LSU, Jay Johnson, had a Hall of Famer in mind, calling Crews a "more athletic Kirby Puckett." 

"There isn't a skill that's needed to be an elite player that Dylan doesn't possess," Johnson said on MLB Network. "And not only does he possess it, it shows up to help his team win every day."