Itās once again awards season, and the LSU baseball team has once again dominated! All season long, itās been apparent that the Tigers have some of the best talent in all of college baseball. That was only further emphasized as a several of LSU baseball members received honors for their accomplishments in 2023.
LSU baseball: Dylan Crews wins SEC Player of the Year
For the second year in a row, the coaches of the SEC have decided that outfielder Dylan Crews was the best player in the conference. Not only that, but this is the third season heās been chosen for an All-SEC team.
Crews has been elite since his freshman year, being chosen to the First-Team Freshman All-American team in 2021. Not only does he have the skill, but the stats more than back this up.
When it comes to the batterās box, there is little that Dylan Crews isnāt capable of. With a batting average of .423 (seventh nationally) and an on-base percentage of .573 (third nationally), itās no wonder heās viewed in such high regard.
Crews also ranks second in the nation in runs scored with 79 total this season. Heās projected as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 MLB draft, and with good reason. Itās crazy to think itās already been three years, but in those three short years, Crews has been elite for LSU baseball. After this season, it will be time for him to take over the MLB.
Paul Skenes wins SEC Pitcher of the Year
What more is there to say about Paul Skenes that hasnāt already been said? He spent his first two collegiate seasons at the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU for his junior season. In case you didnāt already know, he has been outstanding in his three years.
He has been as elite as it gets since his freshman season. He was chosen as a First Team All-American in 2021 and 2022 and will likely be selected again in 2023. Notably, he was chosen as a 2021 Collegiate Baseball National Co-Freshman of the Year, sharing the honor with now teammate Dylan Crews.
Skenes is also projected to be a top-five pick in the 2023 MLB draft. When it comes to pitchers coming out of college, itās hard to find much better than Skenes. Whichever team gets him in the draft, theyāre getting a good one, to say the least.
Three Tigers named First Team All-SEC
Predictably, as they each won individual awards, Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes were chosen to the 2023 First Team All-SEC team. Along with those two, third baseman Tommy White decided to join the party!
Similarly to teammate Skenes, White transferred to LSU following the 2022 season. White began his collegiate career at NC State up in Raleigh, NC. In his freshman season there, he was honored as the 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year and a member of the 2022 All-ACC First Team.
While not quite as efficient as players like Dylan Crews in batting average, thereās no questioning his ability. Heās got a big-league swing, and when he isnāt knocking one out of the park, heās generally getting at least an RBI or two. On the season, he has 20 home runs (tied for 28th nationally) and a whopping 89 runs batted in (second nationally).
With the SEC tournament coming up, LSU baseball will be looking for all three of these players to bring their A-Game. Having been ranked No. 1 for most of the season, they certainly have the potential to go well into the post-season. Itās just a matter of whether theyāre hungry enough.
LSU has representation on the 2023 Freshman All-SEC Team
Coming out of high school as the No. 4 catcher nationally, there was no shortage of high expectations revolving around LSU baseball freshman Jared Jones heading into 2023. He more than lived up to them as he had a stellar first season with the Tigers, appearing in 49 games.
In 153 at-bats for LSU baseball, Jones recorded 47 hits, 37 runs, and 14 home runs. Along with his overall stats, he has been incredibly consistent all season long, recording a .307 batting average.
When thinking about the future, Jones and Tommy White should provide plenty of talent for LSU baseball to continue to be one of the best teams in the country going forward. This has become the norm for the Tigers. If they can continue to bring in elite talent, such as the four players mentioned in this article, the future should be bright in Baton Rouge.
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