Dylan Crews, Thatcher Hurd share what they appreciate most about Paul Skenes

The LSU Tigers are back in Omaha and ready to begin their quest for the national championship this week, which starts with a matchup against a pretty familiar foe in the Tennessee Volunteers. Of course, if LSU wants to do real damage in Nebraska’s premier city this week, they’ll need more great performances out of the two stars who have gotten them to this point: Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews.

Ahead of their CWS debut, a few Tiger players were asked about Skenes this week, who has put up some lockdown outings on the mound in the postseason. When asked about Skenes’ sustained excellence throughout the year, Crews admitted, as good as he is himself, his teammate is still a role model.

“Yeah. He has had a tremendous impact on my career. Just the way he goes about himself every single day, his preparation,” said Crews. “From the first day he walked into the locker room, he has been the same ever since up to this point. That’s what I respect about him. He goes about himself like a Big Leaguer does, and if not probably way better. So I have definitely taken notes of that. Just try to almost imitate him in every way possible because he has had a lot of success this year.”

Well, those two are certainly playing at a big-league level in 2023. And Crews isn’t the only teammate to attribute some of his growth to the LSU ace. Fellow Tiger pitcher Thatcher Hurd, who has developed nicely this spring, has also learned plenty from the guy who pitches the day before him and shared that at the team’s press conference this week.

“I think with Paul, he has helped me out I think probably more than he knows,” Hurd admitted. “I live with him, and we talk all the time about baseball mindset. I just try to learn from him every day. It’s really special to be around him.”

Similar sentiments are true with Dylan Crews, too, per Hurd.

“Same with Dylan. Right next to him in the locker and I live with Paul. I’m just super thankful I’ve got to share the field with those guys all year, and it’s special. Just trying to soak it in, you know.”

Behind such a rockstar pitcher-hitter duo, LSU is ready to take home the crown from the midwestern corn paradise.