Where Paul Skenes ranks among Top-10 pitching prospects in history of MLB Draft

After transferring from Air Force this past season, LSU pitcher Paul Skenes became a national sensation and a potential No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft. The hype is building after his record-breaking season — and it’s reaching the levels of another big-time pitching prospect nearly 15 years ago.

“Skenes is absolutely on the short list but is he the best pitcher I’ve ever scouted? I don’t know that I can quite say that,” a vice president of player personnel told MLB.com’s Jim Callis. “His stuff is right there with [Stephen] Strasburg and he’s a very good athlete for a big guy. But Strasburg is the best pitcher I’ve ever scouted because he pitched better.”

Strasburg starred at San Diego State before the Washington Nationals selected him No. 1 overall in the 2009 MLB Draft. He’s a different pitcher than Skenes, though. Strasburg threw 100 miles per hour when not many others — if any — were. While Skenes also throws 100, others currently do as well, which is why Strasburg was such a must-see talent at the time.

That’s why Callis ranked the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Strasburg as the most hyped pitching prospect in the history of the draft and put 6-foot-6, 235-pound Skenes second.

1. Stephen Strasburg, San Diego State (No. 1 overall, 2009, Washington Nationals)
2. Paul Skenes, LSU (2023)
3. Mark Prior, USC (No. 2 overall, 2021, Chicago Cubs)
4. Ben McDonald, LSU (No. 1 overall, 1989, Baltimore Orioles)
5. Josh Beckett, Spring (TX) High School (No. 2 overall, 1999, Florida Marlins)
6. Todd Van Poppel, Martin (TX) High School (No. 14 overall, 1990, Oakland Athletics)
7. Brien Taylor, East Carteret (NC) High School (No. 1 overall, 1991, New York Yankees)
8. David Clyde, Westchester (TX) High School (No. 1 overall, 1973, Texas Rangers)
9. Floyd Bannister, Arizona State (No. 1 overall, 1976, Houston Astros)
10. Burt Hooton, Texas (No. 2 overall, 1971 June secondary draft, Chicago Cubs)

Even despite the hype around Skenes and the fact that he’s MLB.com’s top prospect, he’s not the consensus No. 1 pick. Teammate Dylan Crews and Florida star Wyatt Langford are also in consideration for the Pittsburgh Pirates atop the board. But the argument for Skenes going No. 1 also lies in the fact that he can hit. At Air Force, he hit .367 with 24 home runs and 81 RBI in 341 at-bats over two years. During the pre-draft process, he also expressed his desire to hit — a la Shohei Ohtani.

Considering he’ll be a pitcher first, though, there’s a thinking the Pirates could look for a position player at No. 1 overall. But one national crosschecker told Callis they’d still take Skenes even despite that way of thinking.

“The only reason to not take Skenes No. 1 is philosophical, because you won’t take a pitcher,” the crosschecker said. “I’m taking Skenes. The size, the command, the velocity, the slider, the way he pitches with the good killer instinct … It’s hard to pass on that.”

Fans will find out who the No. 1 overall pick will be on Sunday when the MLB Amateur Draft gets underway at 7 p.m. ET.