Wake Forest, Oral Roberts give new look to College World Series filled with name brands
The College World Series has its usual mix of regulars in the eight-team field.
By News Channel NebraskaOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The College World Series has its usual mix of regulars in the eight-team field, but it's a couple of relative newcomers that could provide the biggest storylines at the annual two-week party at Charles Schwab Field.
Wake Forest has been the dominant team in the country since February and is the first No. 1 national seed since 2018 to reach the CWS. The Demon Deacons haven't gone this far since their 1955 team won the national championship.
Oral Roberts is the lowest seed to make it to Omaha since Stony Brook in 2012 and is in the field for the first time since its only other appearance in 1978.
As for those familiar names, LSU is in for the 19th time, Stanford for the 18th time and third straight and Florida for the 13th. TCU will make its sixth appearance since 2010 and Virginia its sixth since 2009, and Tennessee is back for the second time in three years.
Stanford punched its ticket with a 7-6 win over Texas on Monday in a game that ended in odd fashion. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Texas outfielders Dylan Campbell and Eric Kennedy lost Drew Bowser's high fly in the twilight sky. The ball dropped about 15 feet in front of Campbell, allowing Alberto Rios to score from second base.
Tennessee advanced with a 5-0 win over Southern Mississippi in a game that started four hours late because of rain and lightning in the Hattiesburg area. Drew Beam pitched six innings, and Zane Denton's three-run homer in the fifth broke open a 1-0 game.
CWS bracket play begins Friday with TCU (42-22) matched against Oral Roberts (51-12) and No. 2 Florida (50-15) against No. 7 Virginia (50-13). Saturday's openers match Wake Forest (52-10) against No. 8 Stanford (44-18) and No. 5 LSU (48-15) against Tennessee (43-20).
Wake Forest has showed no obvious weaknesses this season and is tied for sixth-most wins entering a CWS, which was first played in 1947.
The Deacons' pitching staff leads the nation with a season ERA of 2.84 and has struck out 79 in the tournament. Ace Rhett Lowder leads the nation in wins with his 15-0 record.
The Deacons have averaged 15 runs, hit 19 homers and batted .359 in their five NCAA Tournament games. Their prodigious offense was on full display in the super regional-clinching 22-5 win over Alabama on Sunday. They tied the tournament record with nine home runs, three by projected first-round draft pick Brock Wilken.
“I think that dogpile was surreal,” he said. "Not a lot of people get to do that, and being able to do that with my best friends, that meant the world to me. Job’s not finished, but we got a huge step along the way.”
Oral Roberts is from the Summit League, one of the weakest conferences, and that is a big reason for its No. 4 regional seeding. The Golden Eagles are no joke, though. Wins in 23 of their last 24 games, including a three-game regional sweep and super regional win at Oregon, say as much.
Ryan Folmar's Eagles are mostly a collection of transfers from junior colleges and other Division I schools. Senior first baseman Jake McMurray is the only everyday player who has been at ORU his entire career.
The star is center fielder Jonah Cox, who will enter the CWS on a 47-game hitting streak, tied for third longest in Division I history. He has had a hit in 62 of 63 games. Closer Cade Denton is tied for the national lead with 15 saves.
LSU features the top two prospects for next month's amateur draft. Center fielder Dylan Crews, the projected No. 1 pick, is batting .434 for the season to lead all CWS players. Pitcher Paul Skenes has 188 strikeouts, the most since 2011, and is threatening LSU alum Ben McDonald's SEC record of 202 in 1989.
Florida left fielder Wyatt Langford is expected to be drafted right behind Crews and Skenes and is batting .373 with 17 homers and 24 doubles, and two-way sensation Jac Caglianone leads the nation with 31 homers and has held down the No. 3 spot in the rotation.
Catcher Kyle Teel and third baseman Jake Gelof are returning starters from Virginia's 2021 CWS team, and they headline an offense batting a nation-leading .335. Teel's .418 average is best in the ACC, and Gelof has 23 homers and a conference-high 89 RBIs.
TCU goes to Omaha with an 11-game win streak, the nation's longest, and wins in 19 of 21. The Horned Frogs are averaging 10.8 runs per game in the tournament. Second baseman Tre Richardson, never known for his power, has hit four homers since regionals. He had two grand slams and a third homer and a tournament record-tying 11 RBIs against Arkansas.
Breaking down the teams playing for national championship at College World Series
A look at the eight teams competing in the College World Series, which starts Friday at Charles Schwab Field. (Capsules in order of CWS opening games. Coaches’ records through super regionals):
ORAL ROBERTS (51-12)
Coach: Ryan Folmar (370-222 in 11 years at ORU).
Road to Omaha: Won Stillwater Regional: beat Oklahoma State 6-4, beat Washington 15-12, beat Dallas Baptist 6-5. Won Eugene Super Regional: lost 9-8 to Oregon, beat Oregon 8-7, beat Oregon 11-6.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.
Last CWS appearance: 1978.
All-time record in CWS: 1-2 in one appearance.
Meet the Golden Eagles: C Jacob Godman (.296, 5 HRs, 29 RBIs), 1B Jake McMurray (.327, 6, 47), 2B Blaze Brothers (.302, 11, 38), SS Mac McCroskey (.310, 13, 62), 3B Holden Breeze (.317, 6, 42), LF Justin Quinn (.351, 7, 39), CF Jonah Cox (.420, 11, 67), RF Matt Hogan (.332, 18, 70), DH Drew Stahl (.281, 11, 55). Starting rotation: Jakob Hall (8-3, 3.56 ERA), LHP Harley Gollert (10-1, 4.30), RHP Brooks Fowler (9-1, 3.27). Relievers: RHP Cade Denton (2-1, 1.85, 15 saves), LHP Jacob Widener (2-2, 3.06, 1 save), LHP Caleb Isaacs (8-0, 5.04), RHP Evan Kowalski (2-1, 6.25), RHP Dalton Patten (4-2, 4.43).
MLB alumni: Todd Burns, Craig Colbert, Jeremy Hefner, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Jeff Heathcock, Mike Moore, Tom Nieto, Jordan Romano, Tyler Saladino, Jose Trevino.
Short hops: Joins 2012 Stony Brook and 2008 Fresno State as only No. 4 regional seeds to reach the CWS. ... Cox’s 47-game hitting streak is tied for third longest in Division I history. He has a hit in 62 of 63 games. ... Eagles have won 23 of 24, including 16 of past 17 on road. ... McMurray has started 145 consecutive games. ... First Summit League team to make CWS.
Quotable: "We knew we had a good club coming into the year. We continued to get better and better and better, and we’re playing well at the right time of year. We get an opportunity to keep playing, and that’s pretty fun.” — Folmar.
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TCU (42-22)
Coach: Kirk Saarloos (80-44 in two years at TCU).
Road to Omaha: Won Fayetteville Regional: beat Arizona 12-4, beat Arkansas 20-5, beat Arkansas 12-4. Won Fort Worth Super Regional: beat Indiana State 4-1, beat Indiana State 6-4.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.
Last CWS appearance: 2017.
All-time record in CWS: 11-10 in five appearances.
Meet the Horned Frogs: C Karson Bowen .355, 6 HRs, 46 RBIs), 1B Cole Fontenelle (.347, 13, 52), 2B Tre Richardson (.315, 6, 59), SS Anthony Silva (.340, 7, 47), 3B Brayden Taylor (.314, 23, 69), LF Luke Boyers (.231, 7, 27), CF Elijah Nunez (.290, 3, 35), RF Austin Davis (.280, 9, 55), DH Kurtis Byrne (.291, 10, 46). Starting rotation: RHP Kole Klecker (10-4, 3.84 ERA), RHP Sam Stoutenborough (5-0, 4.52), RHP Cam Brown (3-2, 5.50). Relievers: RHP Hunter Hodges (1-0, 3.09), RHP Mason Speaker (0-0, 6.46), LHP Ben Abeldt (3-3, 3.72), RHP Luke Savage (5-3, 2.50, 2 saves), RHP Cohen Feser (1-0, 2.73, 1 save), RHP Garrett Wright (2-2, 3.24, 5 saves).
MLB alumni: Jake Arrieta, Scott Atchison, Jim Busby, Matt Carpenter, Andrew Cashner, Brandon Finnegan, Bryan Holaday, Nick Lodolo, Tim Mauser, Carl Warwick.
Short hops: Frogs’ 11-game win streak is longest in nation, and they’ve won 19 of 21. ... Abeldt has allowed only one run in 21 2/3 innings over 12 appearances. ... Taylor has reached base in 30 straight games. ... Frogs have 139 steals, most in the CWS field, and have at least 100 three seasons in a row.
Quotable: “It doesn’t feel any different than when I was the assistant coach. It just feels awesome. But it does feel good as the head coach. At least I got there as the head coach, I can say that no matter what happens.” — Saarloos, who went to four CWS as a TCU assistant under Jim Schlossnagle.
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FLORIDA (50-15)
Coach: Kevin O’Sullivan (677-317 in 16 years at Florida).
Road to Omaha: Won Gainesville Regional: beat Florida A&M 3-0, lost to Texas Tech 5-4, beat UConn 8-2, beat Texas Tech 7-1, beat Texas Tech 6-0. Won Gainesville Super Regional: beat South Carolina 5-4, beat South Carolina 4-0.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1 (vs. Tennessee).
Last CWS appearance: 2018.
All-time record in CWS: 21-24 in 12 appearances (won national title in 2017).
Meet the Gators: C BT Riopelle (.250, 16 HRs, 65 RBIs), 1B Jac Caglianone (.336, 31, 84) or Luke Heyman (.327, 11, 36), 2B Cade Curland (.300, 16, 46), SS Josh Rivera (.362, 17, 68), 3B Colby Halter (.248, 3, 28) or Dale Thomas (.244, 1, 4), LF Wyatt Langford (.373, 18, 48), CF Michael Robertson (.232, 1, 19), RF Tyler Shelnut (.285, 7, 27), DH Caglianone or Heyman. Starting rotation: RHP Brandon Sproat (8-3, 4.69 ERA), RHP Hurston Waldrep (9-3, 4.15), LHP Caglianone (7-3, 3.78). Relievers: RHP Brandon Neely (0-2, 3.66, 13 saves), LHP Cade Fisher (6-0, 3.02), RHP Ryan Slater (10-1, 3.51), LHP Philip Abner (3-0, 3.16), RHP Nick Ficarrotta (0-0, 5.45), RHP Tyler Nesbitt (1-0, 2.95).
MLB alumni: Pete Alonso, Harrison Bader, David Eckstein, Mark Ellis, Dalton Guthrie, Jonathan India, A.J. Puk, David Ross, Brady Singer, Mike Stanley, Brad Wilkerson, Mike Zunino.
Short hops: The Gators have their seventh 50-win season, with five coming under O’Sullivan. ... Waldrep has 25 strikeouts in 15 innings in two NCAA Tournament starts. He struck out nine of the final 14 batters he faced in the super regional-clinching win over South Carolina. ... Langford has one error in 120 games he’s played in the field. ... Gators have 129 homers, three off the school record set in 1998.
Quotable: "Getting to Omaha is goal No. 1, but we feel like we have a team that can potentially do some special things in Omaha.” — O’Sullivan.
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VIRGINIA (50-13)
Coach: Brian O’Connor (839-351-2 in 20 years at Virginia).
Road to Omaha: Won Charlottesville Regional: beat Army 15-1, beat East Carolina 2-1, beat East Carolina 8-3. Won Charlottesville Super Regional: lost to Duke 5-4, beat Duke 14-4, beat Duke 12-2.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.
Last CWS appearance: 2021.
All-time record in CWS: 13-10 in five appearances (won national title in 2015).
Meet the Cavaliers: C Kyle Teel (.418, 13 HRs, 69 RBIs), 1B Ethan Anderson (.377, 14, 65), 2B Henry Godbout (.291, 3, 38), SS Griff O'Ferrall (.398, 1, 40), 3B Jake Gelof (.331, 23, 89), LF Harrison Didawick (.247, 4, 33) or Colin Tuft (.234, 1, 17), CF Ethan O’Donnell (.356, 13, 55), RF Casey Saucke (.298, 4, 48), DH Anthony Stephan (.338, 5, 34). Starting rotation: RHP Nick Parker (8-0, 3.81 ERA), LHP Connelly Early (12-2, 3.06), RHP Brian Edgington (9-3, 3.47). Relievers: RHP Jack O’Connor (6-3, 3.88), RHP Jay Woolfolk (2-1, 3.00, 9 saves), LHP Evan Blanco (1-0, 2.70), RHP Cullen McKay (0-0, 3.78), RHP Chase Hungate (3-0, 5.76), LHP Jake Berry (0-4, 3.33), LHP Angelo Tonas (4-0, 2.25), RHP Kevin Jaxel (2-0, 3.75).
MLB alumni: Ryan Zimmerman, Ricky Horton, Javier Lopez, Mark Reynolds, Phil Gosselin, Sean Doolittle, David Adams, Pavin Smith.
Short hops: Cavaliers have won 15 of past 16 games. ... Gelof’s 23 homers are a program single-season record. ... Edgington’s complete game in the super-regional clincher was Virginia’s first in the NCAA Tournament since 2014. ... Gelof and Teel were freshman starters on the 2021 CWS team. ... Brian O’Connor grew up across the Missouri River from Omaha in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and he has participated in the CWS as a pitcher (1991 Creighton), assistant (2002 Notre Dame) and head coach.
Quotable: “Getting to Omaha is very, very difficult to do. It takes a lot of things. It takes a lot more than just talent, and that’s why I’m so proud of these players that wear our uniform.” — Brian O’Connor.
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WAKE FOREST (52-10)
Coach Tom Walter (418-339-1 in 14 years at Wake Forest; 846-671-1 overall in 27 years).
Road to Omaha: Won Winston-Salem Regional: beat George Mason 12-0, beat Maryland 21-6, beat George Mason 15-1. Won Winston-Salem Super Regional: beat Alabama 5-4, beat Alabama 22-5.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.
Last CWS appearance: 1955.
All-time record in CWS: 7-3 in two appearances (won national title in 1955).
Meet the Demon Deacons: C Bennett Lee (.308, 7 HRs, 33), 1B Nick Kurtz (.370, 24, 69), 2B Justin Johnson (.341, 16, 76), SS Marek Houston (.224, 4, 29), 3B Brock Wilken (.357, 30, 80), LF Lucas Costello (.303, 4, 24), CF Tommy Hawke (.354, 7, 33), RF Pierce Bennett (.357, 13, 43), DH Danny Corona (.301, 13, 43). Starting rotation: RHP Rhett Lowder (15-0, 2.05 ERA), LHP Josh Hartle (10-2, 2.80 ERA), RHP Seth Keener (7-1, 2.23). Relievers: LHP Sean Sullivan (5-3, 2.64, 3 saves), RHP Cole Roland (2-1, 2.12), RHP Michael Massey (3-0, 2.58), RHP Camden Minacci (0-1, 2.73, 12 saves), RHP Reed Mascolo (7-1, 3.96), LHP Joe Ariola (0-0, 6.75), RHP William Ray (1-1, 5.40), LHP Derek Crum (1-0, 3.38).
MLB alumni: Mike Buddie, Stuart Fairchild, Chris Getz, Tommy Gregg, Eric Hanson, Kevin Jarvis, Mike MacDougal, Craig Robinson, Gavin Sheets, Jared Shuster, Cory Sullivan.
Short hops: Deacons are first No. 1 national seed to reach CWS since 2018. ... Their 10 losses are fewest in nation. They haven't lost consecutive games. ... First Wake Forest team to win at least 50 games. ... Wilken's 70 homers are ACC career record. ... Corona leads tournament with six homers and 17 RBIs. ... Lowder's 15 wins lead nation.
Quotable: “We’ve had high expectations all year — No. 2 ranked, No. 1 ranked. The higher the expectations got, the more these guys showed up.” — Walter.
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STANFORD (44-18)
Coach: David Esquer (225-90 in 6 years at Stanford, 750-557-2 in 24 years overall).
Road to Omaha: Won Stanford Regional: beat San Jose State 13-2, lost to Texas A&M 8-5, beat Cal State Fullerton 6-5, beat Texas A&M 13-5, beat Texas A&M 7-1. Won Stanford Super Regional: lost to Texas 7-5, beat Texas 8-3, beat Texas 7-6.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 0-0.
Last CWS appearance: 2022.
All-time record in CWS: 41-33 in 18 appearances (won national titles in 1987, 1988).
Meet the Cardinal: C Malcolm Moore (.316, 15 HRs, 62 RBIs), 1B Carter Graham (.312, 15, 76), 2B Drew Bowser (.275, 14, 48), SS Temo Becerra (.327, 2, 7), 3B Tommy Troy (.397, 17, 58), LF Alberto Rios (.387, 18, 71), CF Eddie Park (.340, 6, 47), RF Saborn Campbell (.226, 0, 3), DH Braden Montgomery (.336, 17, 60). Starting rotation: RHP Joey Dixon (9-3, 4.76 ERA), LHP Quinn Mathews (10-4, 3.60), RHP Matt Scott (5-4, 4.86). Relievers: LHP Drew Dowd (9-3, 4.76), RHP Brandt Pancer (3-1, 4.43), LHP Ryan Bruno (2-1, 5.18, 9 saves), LHP Nicolas Lopez (2-1, 7.04), RHP Nick Dugan (1-0, 7.27), RHP Ty Uber (1-0, 9.86), RHP Braden Montgomery (1-2, 12.21), RHP Toran O'Harran (1-1, 11.65), RHP Max Meier (2-0, 11.57).
MLB alumni: Bob Boone, Steve Buechele, Jack McDowell, Mike Mussina, Jeffrey Hammonds, A.J. Hinch, Kyle Peterson, Paul Carey, Ed Sprague, Ryan Garko, Drew Storen, Michael Taylor, Stephen Piscotty, Tommy Edman.
Short hops: Team's .319 batting average is highest since the 2004 squad batted .328. ... Pac-12 pitcher of year Mathews threw 156 pitches in second game of super regional. He has thrown more than 100 pitches in 15 starts, and his 120 innings are most in the nation. ... Esquer is Pac-12 coach of year for third time since 2018. ... Rios is Pac-12 player of year.
Quotable: “Have you ever seen an ending like that, because I haven’t. That was unbelievable.” — Esquer, on the winning run in Game 3 of the super regional scoring when Texas' outfielders lost a fly ball in the twilight sky.
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LSU (48-15)
Coach: Jay Johnson (88-37 in two years at LSU; 405-209 in 11 years overall).
Road to Omaha: Won Baton Rouge Regional: beat Tulane 72, beat Oregon State 6-5, beat Oregon State 13-7. Won Baton Rouge Super Regional: beat Kentucky 14-0, beat Kentucky 8-3.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 2-1 (vs. Tennessee)
Last CWS appearance: 2017.
All-time record in CWS: 40-27 in 18 appearances (won national titles in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009).
Meet the Tigers: C Hayden Travinski (.404, 10 HRs, 29 RBIs), 1B Tre' Morgan (.312, 22, 97), 2B Gavin Dugas (.288, 15, 42), SS Jordan Thompson (.273, 11, 49), 3B Tommy White (.377, 22, 97), LF Josh Pearson (.252, 3, 25), CF Dylan Crews (.434, 17, 67), RF Brayden Jobert (.302, 11, 42), DH Cade Beloso (.316, 14, 41). Starting rotation: RHP Paul Skenes (12-2, 1.77 ERA), RHP Ty Floyd (7-0, 4.50). Relievers: LHP Riley Cooper (4-3, 5.02), RHP Gavin Guidry (3-0, 3.42, 3 saves), RHP Blake Money (1-0, 5.73), LHP Nate Ackenhausen (2-0, 3.63), LHP Griffin Herring (4-2, 4.55), RHP Thatcher Hurd (6-2, 6.49, 3 saves), RHP Sam Dutton (0-0, 6.05), LHP Javen Coleman (1-2, 6.39).
MLB alumni: Albert Belle, Alex Bregman, Paul Byrd, Jake Fraley, Kevin Gausman, Will Harris, Brad Hawpe, Aaron Hill, Alex Lange, DJ LeMahieu, Ben McDonald, Aaron Nola, Austin Nola, Todd Walker, Brian Wilson.
Short hops: Tigers’ six national titles are second to Southern California’s 12. ... Crews and Skenes are projected 1-2 overall picks in the amateur draft. ... Crews' .434 batting average is highest among players in the CWS and is third nationally. His on-base percentage is .667 in the tournament. ... Skenes' 15.81 strikeouts per nine innings this season lead the nation. ... Tigers' 133 homers are most among CWS teams.
Quotable: "They've earned the right to play for a national championship, and that's what we intend on doing and going for it. And I will not promise we'll win it, but everything will be invested by everybody to go do that.” — Johnson.
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TENNESSEE (43-20)
Coach: Tony Vitello (234-97 in six years at Tennessee).
Road to Omaha: Won Clemson Regional: beat Charlotte 8-1, beat Clemson 6-5, beat Charlotte 9-2. Won Hattiesburg Super Regional: lost to Southern Mississippi 5-3, beat Southern Mississippi 8-4, beat Southern Mississippi 5-0.
2023 record vs. CWS teams: 2-4 (1-2 vs. LSU, 1-2 vs. Florida).
Last CWS appearance: 2021.
All-time record in CWS: 8-10 in five appearances.
Meet the Volunteers: C Cal Stark (.181, 5 HRs, 17 RBIs), 1B Blake Burke (.279, 16, 43), 2B Christian Moore (.313, 17, 48), SS Maui Ahuna (.302, 8, 41), 3B Zane Denton (.274, 16, 58), LF Jared Dickey (.325, 12, 51), CF Hunter Ensley (.279, 28, 76), RF Christian Scott (.282, 7, 34), DH Griffin Merritt (.315, 18, 48). Starting rotation: RHP Andrew Lindsey (3-3, 2.79 ERA), RHP Chase Dollander (7-6, 4.50), RHP Drew Beam (9-4, 3.78). Relievers: RHP Chase Burns (4-3, 4.64), RHP Aaron Combs (4-0, 2.61), RHP Camden Sewell (4-0, 3.91), RHP Seth Halvorsen (3-3, 3.60), RHP AJ Russell (2-0, 0.94), LHP Zander Sechrist (0-1, 2.05), LHP Kirby Connell (1-0, 3.77), RHP Hollis Fanning (0-0, 0.66).
MLB alumni: Todd Helton, Phil Garner, Rick Honeycutt, Luke Hochevar, R.A. Dickey, Joe Randa, Mike Difelice, Bubba Trammell, Chris Burke, Mike Lincoln, Steve Searcy, Nick Senzel.
Short hops: Volunteers are one of three programs in at least two of the past three CWS, joining Stanford and Virginia. ... Burns has allowed one earned run in 10 innings over three appearances. ... Over past three seasons, Vols have hit NCAA-leading 381 home runs. In the previous decade (2010-20), they hit 376 combined. ... Denton and Moore each have homered four times in six games, and Moore also has four doubles.
Quotable: “We kind of carve our own way out by being a team that consistently makes progress and figures things out. About halfway through the year they took ownership of the team — the players, that is — and they've continued to push forward and they have room to continue to do that.” — Vitello.
LSU's Skenes closing in on strikeout record as Tigers head to College World Series
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — When LSU clinched its first trip to the College World Series in six years, it gave 6-foot-6, 247-pound right-hander Paul Skenes a chance to break an NCAA strikeout record that has stood for more than three decades.
Skenes — who'll likely make his next start Saturday night against Tennessee in Omaha, Nebraska — is 15 strikeouts from eclipsing former LSU star Ben McDonald’s 1989 mark of 202.
“Obviously, that’s in the back of my mind," said Skenes, who has averaged just more than 11 strikeouts per appearance this season. “But the fact that I get to pitch again with this team, with these boys on the biggest stage, that’s the coolest opportunity that I could have asked for.”
If LSU wins at least twice in the CWS's eight-team, double-elimination format, Skenes should get at least two starts.
“I’m hoping for three,” Skenes said with a smile, referring to the maximum number of appearances he could make if LSU advances to the best-of-three championship series.
“Things are pretty good if he pitches three more times," LSU coach Jay Johnson said with a knowing smile. "And because of him, we’ll have a chance to do that.”
Then again, it's not beyond Skenes' ability to strike out 15 in one game. With a fastball that routinely clocks 101 mph, complemented by a sharp-breaking slider and deceptive changeup, Skenes has averaged a nation-leading 15.8 strikeouts per nine innings this season.
Skenes struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings last Saturday night in a 14-0 victory over Kentucky in Game 1 of the Baton Rouge super regional. Afterward, Wildcats coach Nick Mingione summed up the LSU fireballer's performance this way: “No. 1, he was up to 102 miles an hour, and No. 2, he threw more off-speed pitches than he did fastballs. Let that sink in.”
Even if Skenes falls short, he's turned in one of the most dominant seasons in NCAA history. McDonald pitched in a different era when starters went deeper into games. His 202 strikeouts were compiled over 152 1/3 innings. Skenes' 188 strikeouts have come during 107 innings pitched.
“It would be nice for him to have an opportunity to go two more times," said former LSU coach Skip Bertman, who coached McDonald and also won five national titles as Tigers coach. "He’s a once-in-a-generation pitcher — like McDonald.”
Skenes' earned-run average this season is 1.77 and he's walked just 18 batters.
“The 12 to 13 strikeouts a game, three to four hits, zero or one run up on the board, and being able to count on that at the level we play at and the schedule that we play — maybe somebody’s done it before. I haven’t really seen that,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “Stephen Strasburg is the only competitor as far as just execution and talent and domination that I’ve seen" that compares.
Strasburg averaged 16.1 strikeouts per 9 innings over 109 innings — 195 strikeouts total — in 2009 at San Diego State. That summer, the Washington Nationals picked Strasburg first overall in the Major League Baseball draft.
Skenes is projected to be taken in the top two picks, perhaps behind only his LSU teammate centerfielder Dylan Crews, who is hitting .434 this season (.579 in the NCAA tournament).
Unlike Crews, who was a bona fide MLB prospect since high school, Skenes wasn't sure pro baseball was in his future when he began college at Air Force. He was a two-way player before he transferred to LSU after last season, looking to specialize in pitching and elevate his draft status.
In the process, Johnson said, he's elevated LSU's season with more than just his physical attributes.
“He is the most special human being on the planet," Johnson said. "He’s going to be an ace, a Cy Young winner some day, potential Hall-of-Famer. The character piece matches that talent and you never see that.
“His maturity level in terms of how he prepares, you can’t do it any better from the time an outing is over until the time the next outing starts," Johnson said, referring to Skenes' recovery regimen, his video scouting and his throwing between starts. "It’s as elite as you could ask for.”
Skenes also has been able to adjust his in-game approach when he finds he's not executing certain types of pitches as well as he'd like on a given day, Johnson said.
“He’s dominated no matter what he has or hasn’t brought to the table in a particular outing,” Johnson said. "That’s a mark of a great pitcher.”