It has been a season to remember for LSU baseball in 2023! Now, as the Tigers are heading into their Super Regional, things have the potential to get even better. As if that werenât enough, though, the Golden Spikes Award announced its three finalists, and two Tigers, Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes, were included in the list.
Two LSU baseball players are included as finalists for Golden Spikes Award
Each year, the Golden Spikes Award is awarded to âthe top amateur baseball player in the nation who best exhibits exceptional on-field ability and exemplary sportsmanship,â according to the trophyâs official website.
No LSU baseball player has won the award since 1989, when Ben McDonald was honored. With Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes sitting as finalists, the Tigers are well on their way to earning their first winner in over 30 years.
The only other finalist not based in Baton Rouge is Florida pitcher/first-baseman Jac Caglianone. Caglianone has consistently been one of the best players in the country and helped to lead Florida to their Super Regional versus South Carolina.
Here is what USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Paul Seiler had to say about the finalists:
âAll three of these athletes are beyond worthy of this recognition, thanks to both their terrific play on the field and their tremendous character off the field. The winner of this award will join a long list of established and successful baseball players, and we look forward to crowning the recipient of the 45th Golden Spikes Award later this month.â
Paul Skenes is one of the best pitchers in college baseball
When it comes to Paul Skenes, no one does it better than him at the college level. All year long, if Skenes is at the mound, you can almost guarantee a win for LSU baseball.
In fact, on the year, Skenes has helped the Tigers to an 11-2 record when he takes part in the game. Even more impressive, in his most recent game versus Tulane, he threw a whopping 124 pitches. His final throw of the outing was a 101 mph ball to cap it all off.
Earlier this season, Skenes was announced as the SEC Pitcher of the Year. Heâs also projected as one of the top MLB prospects in the upcoming draft.
If Skenes is to win the Golden Spikes Award, it wouldnât be all that surprising, but thereâs no doubt that it would still be thrilling. Despite him beginning his career at Air Force, LSU football has grown to love having him as a part of the program.
Outfielder Dylan Crews could add to his already impressive trophy collection
Dylan Crews is about as good as it gets. Already announced as the SEC player of the year, the Golden Spikes Award would be another trophy for possibly the best player in amateur baseball.
Itâd be one thing if he only found this kind of success in 2023, but heâs been incredible his entire career. Through three seasons in Baton Rouge, heâs totaled 271 hits, 177 RBIâs and 57 home runs on an elite 0.379 batting average.
In his freshman season, when most others his age were learning how to adjust to life in college, Dylan Crews was dominating college baseball.
Thatâs simply what heâs done throughout his career. Obviously, the ultimate goal for both Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes is to win the 2023 Menâs College World Series. Still, if one of them could add this honor to their collection, it would be an incredible way to wrap up a couple of remarkable careers.
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