Paul Skenes opens up on what it meant to get standing ovation in likely final home game at LSU

Right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes may have just transferred to LSU this offseason, but Tiger Nation has embraced him with open arms as he’s had a historic season on the mound for the Tigers. Skenes was dominant in the Tiger’s Game 1 win over Kentucky in Super Regionals, receiving a standing ovation in likely his last game at Alex Box Stadium. And in an interview with Mikie Mahtook, Skenes broke down the memorable moment.

“It was cool, and honestly it was something I thought about, like how cool it would be and I didn’t think it would be seven and two-thirds and a shutout,” Skenes said. “But how cool it would be to experience something like that with 12,000 people clapping and all that.”

With the way Skenes has been pitching this season, he had every right to anticipate a stellar performance out of himself followed by a curtain call. Skenes pitched 7.2 shutout innings on Saturday, allowing just four hits and recording nine strikeouts on the day to help lead the Tigers to a dominant 14-0 victory.

The win marks Skenes’ 12th of the season, pushing his record on the year to 12-2. He now has 188 strikeouts on the season, continuing to lead the nation, but his last two Ks will definitely be a pair that he remembers for a long time.

“I knew that I was going, because they told me I was getting two hitters so I wouldn’t go the whole inning, I get it. It was nice to have the two strikeouts. So I knew it was coming and when it was happening I didn’t know how to react, but it was cool,” Skenes said. “Kind of just put my head down and smiled.”

Skenes received an electric ovation from the crowd as he was taken out of the game Saturday, as his final strikeout marked the 684th of the season for LSU’s pitching staff marking a new single season program record.

He’s received more than applause and love from LSU faithful, as he was recently named the 2023 Dick Howser Trophy Winner, an award given annually to college baseball’s best player. Skenes led the nation in strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings, WHIP, and ranked second in ERA at 1.77 this season. He was also named the 2023 SEC Pitcher of the Year and took home First-Team All-American honors for the third time in his career.

MLB.com has Skenes ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft, but he’ll be looking to add national champion to his list of accolades this month before he begins his professional career.

Skenes and the Tigers face Tennessee in their first game of this year’s College World Series this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET airing on ESPN.