LSU Tigers Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews make history in this year's MLB draft

LSU Tigers Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews have made history by becoming the first pair of teammates in Major League Baseball to be drafted 1st and 2nd overall. The teammates also just won a championship last month, when the LSU Tigers beat the Florida Gators in Game 3 of the College World Series.

LSU Teammates Dylan Crews and Paul SkenesPhoto byAssociated Press

LSU's pitcher Paul Skenes was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Skenes was the winner of the Dick Howser Trophy, which is given to the national college baseball player of the year and was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series. He was also named D1 Baseball's National Player of the Year, in addition to being the Southeastern Conference's Pitcher of the Year. Last year, Skenes transferred to LSU from the Air Force Academy.

"I was in shock when I heard. A year ago, two years ago, I never thought it was a possibility to be the first overall pick. I don't know what I was expecting going into today, but it means a lot." Skenes told ESPN over video conference.

Just minutes later, LSU's center fielder Dylan Crews was selected by the Washington Nationals as the second overall pick in this year's MLB Draft. Crews was the 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner as well as the 2023 SEC Male Athlete of the Year.

This was the first time since 2001 that LSU had two players that were selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. That year, second baseman Mike Fontenot and outfielder Todd Linden were selected 19th and 41st overall. In 1994, second baseman Todd Walker and shortstop Russ Johnson were also selected in the first-round draft.