Heading into the 2023 MLB Draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates were in an enviable position. They had the top pick in the draft and two great options to choose from in Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews.
Skenes and Crews were 21-year-old LSU teammates who had just won the College World Series together. Skenes was regarded as the best pitcher in the draft, while Crews — an outfielder — was considered the best position player.
Pirates GM Ben Cherington took the arm over the bat, and it’s paid off massively so far.
Both players debuted in 2024, but Skenes immediately emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball. He won NL Rookie of the Year honors last season and will likely win the NL Cy Young award this year. Through his first 52 outings, he’s 21-12 with a 1.97 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, 365 strikeouts and 12.8 WAR in 306 innings, getting off to one of the best career starts in MLB history.
Meanwhile, Crews is still figuring things out for the Washington Nationals. While he’s flashed some power and speed, he’s struggled to make consistent contact, hitting just .206/.282/.345 (77 OPS+) with 10 homers, 27 RBI, 26 steals, 90 strikeouts and 1.2 WAR over his first 95 games.
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While both teams are in last place, that gap in production is a big reason why Pittsburgh has eight more wins than the Nationals this season. The Pirates appear to be nearing the end of their rebuild, while the same can not be said for Washington.
Pitchers tend to progress faster and have an easier time adjusting to the Major Leagues than hitters, making them safer draft picks. That’s certainly proven to be the case with Skenes, who’s dominated since day one.
Crews could still turn into a star with more experience, but he remains a work in progress. Meanwhile, Skenes is already a superstar and a bona fide ace worth building a team around.
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