That Paul Skenes possessed a special mix of pitches was obvious, as the LSU right-hander relied on a triple-digit fastball and wicked slider to dominate college baseball in a way few others have ever done.

What impressed the Pittsburgh Pirates was the combination of character off the field and competitiveness on the mound that had draft analysts calling Skenes a generational talent.

The Pirates selected Skenes with the No. 1 overall pick of the MLB Draft on Sunday night. The 6-foot-6 1/2, 260-pounder started his college career as a catcher and reliever at Air Force before transferring to LSU and leading the Tigers to their seventh College World Series title while surpassing teammate Dylan Crews as the draft’s top prospect.

“In getting to know Paul, what you understand is that from his background, you would anticipate discipline and work ethic and service-oriented teammate … but what you also learn about Paul as you get to know him is that he’s got this thirst for getting better,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “Not only willing but wants to take on the challenge, whether that was going to Air Force Academy out of high school or transferring to the SEC for his draft year. Whatever’s next, he’s going to want it.”

It was the sixth time in franchise history the Pirates had No. 1 pick, which they received after winning the inaugural draft lottery. It’s the fourth time the Pirates used the first overall pick on a right-hander, as Skenes joins Kris Benson (1986), Bryan Bullington (2002) and Gerrit Cole (2011). Only Cole was an All-Star for the Pirates.

“It means a lot. It’s super humbling,” Skenes said. “I was in shock when I heard. A year or two years ago, I never even thought it was a possibility to be the first overall pick. I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”

In his lone season at LSU, Skenes went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 122 2/3 innings over 19 starts. He had 209 strikeouts against 20 walks, posting a ridiculous 45.1% strikeout rate and 4.3% walk rate, and recorded 21 strikeouts in two College World Series appearances to earn most outstanding player honors.

Skenes took a calculated risk by transferring to LSU from Air Force, where he went 10-3 with a 2.73 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 96 strikeouts and 30 walks in 85 2/3 innings over 15 starts while batting .314/.412/.634 with 10 doubles, 13 homers and 38 RBIs to win the John Olerud Award as college baseball’s best two-way player in 2022.

At LSU, he worked to improve his delivery with renowned pitching coach Wes Johnson, who spent the previous three seasons in the same role with the Minnesota Twins, and gave up playing in the field.

“Him mastering his ability to rest, recover and rebuild for the next outing changed the game for him,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson, a guest analyst on the MLB Network’s draft coverage. “When he wasn’t hitting, wasn’t rotating, wasn’t catching behind the plate or playing first base, he was honing in on one thing. He’s got aptitude like you’ve never seen, he’s got work ethic like you’ve never seen and he took all of that and put it into being the most dominant pitcher in the country.”

MLB Network draft analyst Dan O’Dowd noticed how Skenes demonstrated the ability to connect and duplicate his delivery, showing high-velocity fastball command with high-spin sliders and good feel for a changeup that offers a 10-15 mph speed differential.

Cherington credited Skenes’ offseason adjustments on his physical and delivery development “that really unleashed the power that was already in there but took his stuff from good to next level in the spring.” Cherington believes Skenes has much more to offer by adding a changeup, curveball and even a gyro slider to his pitch repertoire.

“He has not in the past probably needed every pitch he’s capable of throwing to get college hitters out,” Cherington said. “I think we saw over the course of the season, obviously, fastball-slider dominant, mix in a curveball, started a changeup later in the spring more. That looks to be a very effective pitch. We think there’s even more pitches in there. I think we saw a really good pitcher at the end of the College World Series who has all the weapons to go on and succeed in pro ball but may still have more. I know he’s already thinking about that.”

The Pirates chose Skenes over two college and two prep outfielders who were selected with the next four picks. LSU teammate Dylan Crews went to the Washington Nationals at No. 2, followed by the Detroit Tigers taking Max Clark of Franklin, Ind., the Texas Rangers picking Florida’s Wyatt Langford and the Minnesota Twins taking Walker Jenkins of South Brunswick, N.C.

By selecting Skenes, the Pirates picked a pitcher with their first-round choice for the first time under Cherington. They had taken hitters in his previous three drafts, going for New Mexico State infielder Nick Gonzales seventh overall in 2020, Louisville catcher Henry Davis with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021 and Georgia prep infielder Termarr Johnson fourth overall last year.

Cherington, however, said it wasn’t because Skenes was the most major-league ready but rather that he was the “right match at the right time for the Pirates,” who added a top-of-the rotation starting pitcher.

“We wanted the player who we thought would help the Pirates win the most games over time,” Cherington said. “That’s what we always go back to. We’ve taken college players three out of four years that I’ve been here, but it’s always focused on the best player. We’re excited and thrilled to have Paul join the Pirates.”

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