Tag: LSU in MLB

Former LSU pitcher is a finalist for the Cy Young Award

Kevin Gausman seems to be aging like fine wine as he is pitching at an elite level for the Toronto Blue Jays.

[autotag]Kevin Gausman[/autotag] has been in the MLB for 11 years and has played for five different teams as he is on the cusp of turning 33 years old in January. Gausman seems to be aging like fine wine as he is pitching at an elite level for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Gausman joins Sonny Gray of the Twins and Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees as the three finalists for the AL Cy Young Award.

Gausman had a phenomenal regular season for the Blue Jays as he finished with a 12-9 record and a 3.16 ERA in 31 starts. He struck out a career-high 237 hitters and walked 55 hitters in 185 innings. He made an appearance for the Blue Jays in the playoffs but it did not go well.

He started against the Twins in the Wild Card and only went four innings as he gave up three runs on three hits. He struck out five hitters and walked three.

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Five former LSU players set for MLB postseason

These five former Tigers are hoping to make a World Series run this October.

The MLB playoffs begin on Tuesday night and a handful of former LSU players are set to appear.

Last year, we saw [autotag]Aaron Nola[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Bregman[/autotag] both make World Series runs with the Astros eventually winning it all.

According to BetMGM, the Braves are the current title favorites at +250.

The top five is rounded out by the Dodgers, Astros, Orioles and Phillies.

Several players from this group contributed to postseason runs at LSU, including Nola, who helped lead LSU to a CWS title in 2009.

Here’s a closer look at the five former Tigers competing in October.

Former LSU pitcher named to MILB All-Star team

Paul Gervase has been named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team.

Former LSU relief pitcher [autotag]Paul Gervase[/autotag] has been named to the South Atlantic League All-Star team.

Gervase was drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB draft and signed with them that summer. He was then transferred to the Mets High-A club, the Brooklyn Cyclones. That is where Gervase made his mark in 2023.

The righty was superb across his team-high 31 appearances out of the Brooklyn bullpen. Across his 47.0 innings of work, the 6’10 reliever notched a 1.72 ERA and struck out 76 batters.

A 2022 12th-round pick by the Mets organization, Gervase was, statistically speaking, one of the best relief arms across the circuit. Amongst relief pitchers with at least 30 games played, no player in the South Atlantic League had a lower ERA than Gervase’s mark of 1.72.

Paul’s success did not stop there, though. He was promoted to the Mets Double-A squad, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. The future looks bright for this former Tiger!

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Pirates put Paul Skenes on the shelf for rest of the season

Paul Skenes’ 2023 season is over, but it was a season to remember.

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed No. 1 overall pick [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] on the development list Tuesday, meaning that he is done pitching for the season.

Skenes showed last season why he was the best pitcher in the country as he finished the year with a 12-2 record and a 1.69 ERA. He struck out 209 hitters and only walked 20 as he led the Tigers to a National Championship. The biggest question facing all MLB teams heading into the draft was, “Would you take Skenes or [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] with the first pick of the draft?”

The Pirates went with Skenes, and the Nationals picked Crews with the second pick. Skenes was then sent to rookie ball where he made one appearance as he struck out one hitter in one inning. He was then called up to Single-A Bradenton where he pitched three innings over two starts. Then he was called up to Double-A Altoona. He pitched 2.2 innings for them before the Pirates had seen all they needed to see.

ā€œWeā€™re excited and encouraged by the positive things Paul has been able to accomplish in his short time in the Pirates organization,ā€ Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a release. ā€œHeā€™s checked all of the boxes we aimed for him to check during the 2023 season. The goal now is to focus on a complete off-season in preparation for his first full professional year in 2024.”

Skenes’ 2023 season is over, but it was a season to remember.

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WATCH: Paul Skenes much sharper in 2nd Double-A appearance with Altoona

Paul Skenes was much better in his second Double-A appearance on Friday night.

It wasn’t the best debut for [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] at the Double-A level with the Altoona Curve of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

But in his second start on the bump with the Curve, the 2023 MLB draft’s first overall pick was much sharper. After not even making it a full inning in his debut, he pitched two scoreless innings, striking out three batters with no walks while allowing just one hit against the Erie SeaWolves.

It’s clear the Pirates are limiting Skenes down the stretch this season after an eventful year in which he’s already thrown a lot of pitches. But he’s giving the organization a taste of what he brings to the table, and his run through the minor leagues has been impressive so far.

We’ll continue to keep you posted on Skenes’ progress at the professional ranks as the minor league season winds to a close.

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How to watch Paul Skenes pitch for Double-A Altoona Curve on Friday night

Paul Skenes is set to make his second Double-A appearance, and it’s the minor leagues’ Free Game of the Day.

[autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] and the Double-A Altoona Curve will take on the Erie SeaWolves on Friday night, and LSU fans can watch the first overall pick take the mound as the game has been selected as the Minor League Baseball Free Game of the Day.

The game begins at 5:05 CT with Skenes getting the start of the mound, and it can be watched on MiLB.tv.

Skenes, who got the call-up to Double-A after just two appearances and three total innings pitched in Low-A ball, will be making his second start with the curve.

He’ll hope it goes better than his first as he allowed two walks, three hits and four earned runs in just 0.2 innings pitched, though he did manage a pair of strikeouts.

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Dylan Crews impresses in Double-A debut

Dylan Crews remained hot as he was promoted to Double-A.

Fresh off his promotion to Double-A, former LSU star and second overall pick [autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] is staying hot.

In his first game with the Harrisburg Senators, Crews recorded a hit and walked twice. He stole a base while driving in another run and scoring one of his own.

It was Crews’ 16th game in the Nationals system. So far, he’s hitting .394 with an 1.150 OPS. He’s scoring more than a run per game, totaling 20 runs over that span.

Hopes were high for Crews. At LSU, he looked like he belonged on a MLB field. But this far, he’s still finding ways to exceed expectations.

At this rate, Crews could be in the majors by the end of this year. The Nationals don’t have much to play for right now though, so the organization could opt to play it safe.

MLB.com lists Crews as the fourth best prospect in baseball, just behind his former LSU teammate [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] at three.

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Former LSU stars Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes could face off in minors next month

Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews could face-off next month.

[autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag] and [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag] are continuing their rapid ascension through the minor leagues.

Both were promoted to their respective Double-A teams this week. It just so happens they won’t be that far from each other either.

Skenes heads to Altoona, Pennsylvania, while Crews takes his talents to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The stadiums are separated by just a two-hour drive.

The Altoona Curve are set to host the Harrisburg Senators next month. That means we could see a Skenes vs. Crews at-bat.

It wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened. When Skenes was at Air Force, he pitched in Baton Rouge. Crews turned on a pitch to put it over the left field wall.

It’s not clear how much more the Pirates organization wants to get out of Skenes this year. He’s thrown plenty of pitches in 2023 thanks to LSU’s CWS run.

But if Skenes is still active and throwing when that series rolls around, there’s a good chance he’ll face Crews. It’s a six game series, spanning from Sep. 5 to Sep. 10. His spot will come up in the rotation.

Crews and Skenes are both considered top five prospects and based off the recent promotions, they could appear in the big leagues sooner than anyone thought.

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Nationals calling Dylan Crews up to Double-A

The former LSU star and Nationals top prospect seems to be on the fast track through the minor leagues.

[autotag]Dylan Crews[/autotag]’ meteoric rise through the minor league ranks continues.

The former LSU star and No. 2 pick in the 2023 MLB draft has been called up to the Double-A level with the Washington Nationals organization and will now join the Harrisburg Senators.

Crews, the top prospect in the Washington farm system, spent just 14 games at the Low-A level following just one outing in the rookie leagues. He’ll skip the High-A level after recording 22 hits, 16 runs, five home runs and 24 RBI with a 1.068 OPS in his two weeks with the Fredericksburg Nationals.

He also earned Carolina League Player of the Week honors during his time at the Single-A level.

Crews looks like a player who is set to reach the Major League levelĀ and make an impact early in his career.

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WATCH: Paul Skenes turns in first multi-inning minor league appearance

Paul Skenes pitched two scoreless innings on Sunday for the Single-A Bradenton Marauders, striking out a pair of batters.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are being understandably cautious with No. 1 overall pick [autotag]Paul Skenes[/autotag].

The former LSU star is expected to make an impact in the big leagues sooner rather than later, and he just pitched a full season with the Tigers in which he led the team to its seventh national title.

Skenes has made two appearances so far since being drafted, going just one inning in each. But on Sunday, he made his third appearance (and second with the Single-A Bradenton Marauders), and it was his first multi-inning outing.

He pitched two full innings in total, striking out two while allowing no hits or earned runs.

 

Skenes will likely be limited in his action down the stretch, but it seems the Pirates have been eager to see what he can do against minor league competition.

The early results have to be encouraging.

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