Paul Skenes named College World Series MVP

LSU pitcher Paul Skenes was absent in the final series against Florida, yet somehow took home College World Series MVP honors after the Tigers blew out Florida in Game 3 to bring home head coach Jay Johnson’s first national championship.

While Skenes did not throw in any of the three games against Florida, he was spectacular in crucial wins over Wake Forest and Tennessee, allowing just two total runs in 15.2 innings pitched in those contests. Obviously, those are two stellar offenses too. So, he certainly was a primary reason the team even got to the title series. But still… College World Series MVP without playing in any of the title games? Interesting choice.

Anywho, take a look at this king don his crown for the very first time after the Tigers took over Omaha:

The College World Series MVP is Paul Skenes. #LSU pic.twitter.com/ANsWNEo63T

— Tyler Harden (@ttjharden8) June 27, 2023

Paul Skenes explains why he didn’t pitch in Game 3

Almost all the attention was toward the bullpen when LSU ace Paul Skenes began warming up for a potential closing performance on Game 3 of the College World Series — and his college baseball career.

To the disappointment of LSU fans everywhere, once the ninth inning came around Skenes was back in the dugout and watching from the sidelines. He explained why he was ultimately chosen to rest instead of pitch.

“We had to be within five or six runs, I think,” Skenes said. “And it wasn’t quite there. It was a team win, the whole series,” Skenes said. “It’s just that we could make it happen. Obviously, I wish I threw but I am glad I didn’t.”

LSU ultimately took Game 3 by an 18-4 score over Florida and didn’t need Skenes’ arm to keep the Gators off the board. It also sends him to the 2023 MLB Draft in good health — where he is expected to be one of the first two names off the board. Which is especially good knowing the type of workload Skenes pitched through in Omaha.

Skenes has thrown 243 pitches in two starts over the last nine days. He hurled 123 pitches against Tennessee in the Tigers’ first game of the College World Series. His regular schedule would have called for six days off before his next start. But this is Omaha and LSU was on the ropes, so Skenes pitched on five days’ rest and twirled eight scoreless innings with nine strikeouts on 120 pitches.

Still, Skenes couldn’t care less that he didn’t throw a single pitch in the College World Series final. He’ll forever be a national champion — and more importantly — an LSU Tiger.

— On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this article