Tag: 2023 MLB draft

Paul Skenes shines in Triple-A start for Indianapolis Indians

Paul Skenes seems to be on the fast track to the majors.

The No. 1 pick in the [autotag]2023 MLB draft[/autotag], [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag], made another start for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate, the [autotag]Indianapolis Indians[/autotag], as they took on the Memphis Redbirds and Skenes looked great.

Skenes finished the game after three innings of work where he gave up zero runs on only one hit with six strikeouts and a walk. As you can see in the video below, Skenes was doing what he always does. He was throwing in the triple digits easily and his fastball was hard to hit for Memphis.

Skenes has now made two starts this season for Indianapolis and in six innings he has only allowed one hit while striking out 11 hitters and only walking one. He is the No. 1 prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates system and is likely to make an appearance in the MLB sometime during 2024.

Another top prospect for the Pirates is Jared Jones. He got his first start in the majors recently and he looked great. The future could be bright on the mound for Pittsburgh.

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Tracking the Florida Gators drafted to MLB in 2023

The Florida baseball team lost six players and two recruits during the 2023 MLB draft. Here’s how they performed in Year 0 in the pros.

The 2023 Florida baseball team came up just one win shy of hoisting the College World Series Championship in June, which naturally led to a large wave of departures in the subsequent MLB draft.

Florida lost perhaps the most dangerous bat it’s ever had, both of its top arms, a lefty out of the bullpen, the left side of the infield and two players from the 2023 recruiting class. It definitely could have gone worse, but Kevin O’Sullivan still has his work cut out for him if UF is going to have a similar season in 2024.

Even though these losses are significant, Florida fans will still be cheering the former Gators on as they embark on their pro careers.

For those of you who can’t get enough baseball, here’s a look at how the Florida Gators selected in the 2023 MLB draft fared in Year 0.

Javen Coleman to return to LSU baseball in 2024

Javen Coleman will not sign with the Dodgers, who drafted him in the 16th round of the 2023 MLB draft.

LSU got a major boost for its 2024 pitching staff on Tuesday night as left-handed pitcher [autotag]Javen Coleman[/autotag] announced that he will forego a professional contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and instead return to LSU.

Coleman was drafted by the Dodgers in the 16th round with the 490th pick in the 2023 MLB draft earlier this month.

After a promising true freshman season in 2021, Coleman was sidelined after just three relief appearances in 2022 due to injury and underwent Tommy John surgery.

He didn’t make his return to the field until April 18 this season. He ultimately appeared in eight games (making four starts) with a 1-2 record and 7.07 ERA while striking out 21 batters and walking 16.

It wasn’t the best campaign for Coleman as he was working his way back from injury, but he’ll come back to Baton Rouge to work on his craft for another season.

With LSU losing a number of arms from the pitching staff, Coleman has a chance to be a key reliever if not compete for a spot in the weekend rotation next spring.

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LOOK: Washington Nationals formally introduce former LSU star Dylan Crews

With Jay Johnson in attendance, Dylan Crews officially joined the Washington Nationals organization Saturday.

The Washington Nationals officially introduced No. 2 overall pick [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] on Saturday. LSU coach [autotag]Jay Johnson[/autotag] was in attendance for the event.

The former star Tigers outfielder came to terms with the team on a record-setting over-slot deal for a position player with a signing bonus worth $9 million. That’s also the second-biggest bonus in the history of the draft behind only Crews’ teammate [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag], the first overall pick who signed a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates worth $9.2 million.

With Crews officially joining the Nationals organization, he’ll be paired up again with [autotag]Gavin Dugas[/autotag], who Washington selected in the sixth round.

Here are the photos from Crews’ introduction in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.

Former LSU pitcher Garrett Edwards officially agrees to terms with Rays

Garrett Edwards signed a deal with Tampa Bay for $500,000.

After he was selected in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB draft, former LSU pitcher [autotag]Garrett Edwards[/autotag] officially came to an agreement with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

According to a report from MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Edwards’ deal is worth $500,000 (with $350,000 of it counting vs. the pool).

Edwards emerged as one of LSU’s top bullpen options this season, and he likely would have pushed for a spot in the starting rotation were it not for him undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery.

As a junior in 2023, he made 10 appearances while earning a 4-0 record. His earned run average was just 1.93, and he also recorded a save.

Edwards’ draft stock was hurt due to his injury, but he’ll join the Rays organization and hope to rise the minor league ranks once healthy.

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Blake Money and Riley Cooper reportedly sign with the Orioles

Riley Cooper and Blake Money were drafted by the Orioles in the 12th and 13th rounds of the MLB draft.

Two members of the LSU pitching staff last season have now reportedly signed with the Baltimore Orioles.

[autotag]Riley Cooper[/autotag] and [autotag]Blake Money[/autotag] were drafted by the Orioles in the 12th and 13th rounds of the MLB Draft, and now they will move on to play baseball at the next level.

Money had an up-and-down career while at LSU. He came in as a freshman out of the bullpen in 2021 and had a 1-2 record with an 8.68 ERA. He improved that in his sophomore season when he was one of LSU’s starters as he went 2-4 with a 5.31 ERA.

Last year, Money went back to the bullpen for LSU and appeared in 20 games going 1-0 with a 5.97 ERA.

Cooper was one of Jay Johnson’s biggest grabs out of the transfer portal in 2021. Cooper signed with Johnson and the Arizona Wildcats out of high school and he followed Johnson to the Bayou. Cooper appeared in 32 games last season for LSU and had a 5-3 record with a 4.38 ERA.

He played a huge role down the stretch as he pulled the Tigers through a lot of tough situations in Omaha.

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Dylan Crews officially signs with the Nationals

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft has officially signed with the Washington Nationals.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft, [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag], has officially signed with the Washington Nationals.

Crews got PAID. He could have been a first-round pick out of high school but opted to attend LSU instead, and it paid off big time. Crews signed with the Nationals for about $9 million.

Crews accomplished his ultimate goal of bringing a national title back to the bayou and he had an incredible season. He had a batting average of .426 with 16 doubles, two triples, 18 homers, and 70 RBI. Those stats earned him the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, ABCA Gold Glove Team, SEC Player of the Year, SEC Male Athlete of the Year, Consensus First-Team All-American, and many more awards.

With a signing bonus of around $9 million, Crews now has the second-highest signing bonus in the history of the MLB, coming in right behind his buddy [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag], who signed with the Pirates for $9.2 Million.

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Alabama Baseball players, signees officially sign first MLB contracts of professional career

The 2023 MLB Draft took place during All-Star weekend several weeks ago. A handful of Alabama baseball players and signees were selected and each have now signed their first MLB contract.

The Alabama baseball program was well-represented during the 2023 MLB draft. The Tide had seven players and three signees agree to contract terms with major league organizations.

The team was able to reach Super Regionals in 2023 despite an ongoing NCAA investigation regarding former head coach Brad Bohanon. Interim head coach Jason Jackson helped the players and program create value in a short amount of time.

There were a number of upperclassmen that helped pave the way for the team and it showed in this year’s draft. Most of them were allowed to continue their baseball careers at the professional level.

Roll Tide Wire breaks down each player that signed MLB contracts and the salary each will receive.

Bakich says teams tried to poach Cannarella by tampering

Teams tried to poach the ACC Freshman of the Year, Clemson head coach Erik Bakich said on Thursday.

The Clemson baseball team was in jeopardy of losing one of its brightest stars this offseason. 

Speaking to the media on Thursday for the first time since the end of the Tigers’ season, head coach Erik Bakich discussed how opposing programs were trying to convince Cam Cannarella to transfer to their team through third-party groups.

“I love Cam, I love his family and I appreciate the loyalty because there was tampering going on with him,” Bakich said. “There were third parties, and that’s how it’s done. It’s never done from direct coach to player; it’s the third-party stuff. But he held his ground and stuck his feet in, and their family realized that he’s not only grown as a baseball player but as a person. And his friends are here, and he’s thriving here. You don’t want to mess with success, and he’s very successful here.”

Cannarella was an instrumental piece of Clemson’s 2023 team. Winning ACC Freshman of the Year, the center fielder hit .388 with 72 runs, 16 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 47 RBIs.

“It’s really exciting to think about his trajectory and about the career that he can build for himself on that trajectory and being able to play this great game for a long, long time,” Bakick said. “I love his fire, I love his competitiveness, and I don’t want to lose that for one second because it’s what makes him great. He’s awesome, and we love having him. I’m glad he’s on our team and staying on our team.”

Clemson lost multiple key players from last year’s team, both to the MLB draft and the transfer portal. But, for now, Cannarella remains an integral and versatile member of Team 127.

“He can play anywhere,” Bakich added. “Cam Cannarella can play infield, outfield, pitch and catch. He’s a ballplayer. He’s just got that ‘it’ factor. But it sure looks like he’s found a home at center field.”

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Wyatt Langford signs massive MLB contract

Former Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford just signed one of the biggest rookie contracts in MLB history.

Former Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford signed a contract with the Texas Rangers for $8 million on Monday, according to Jim Callis of MLB.com.

Langford’s deal is the seventh most lucrative of all time, but Dylan Crews could end up moving him down to the No. 8 spot once he signs. Former LSU Tiger (and Crews’ teammate) Paul Skenes broke the record set by Arizona State’s Spencer Torkelson (Detroit) in 2020. Texas went $302,000 over the slot value to sign Langford.

It’s also the biggest deal for any Gator, eclipsing Jonathan India’s $5.3 million signing bonus for going fifth overall in the 2018 draft.

It will be a while before Langford makes his MLB debut, though. The Rangers will have more than half a decade of control over Langford for that lofty check. He’ll receive his first assignment shortly, either joining the rookie ball team at the Rangers’ spring training complex or starting off in Class A.

Either way, the quickest fans can expect him to make it to Double-A is next year, and that would require a strong performance early in the minors. That puts Langford’s expected MLB arrival somewhere around 2025 or early 2026.

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