Paul Skenes named National Player of the Week, SEC Pitcher of the Week

The Air Force transfer pitched six shutout innings with 12 strikeouts on Friday night.

[autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] entered the season with sky-high expectations, and he’s already living up to them.

After an electric start in LSU’s season-opening 10-0 win over Western Michigan on Friday night, Skenes was named both the National Player of the Week and SEC Pitcher of the Week.

In his first start as a Tiger, he pitched six innings and gave up three hits with 12 strikeouts and only one walk. Skenes showed that he was one of the best pitchers in the country and proved why he could be a top pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

He was named the Friday night starter before the season, and if he keeps pitching as he did in Game 1, he will be the ace for the rest of the year. LSU started the season off with a three-game sweep of Western Michigan.

The Tigers’ next game will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. CT against Southern. UCLA transfer Thatcher Hurd will get the start on the mound for that one, and Tommy White’s status is still unknown.

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