Top 2023 MLB Draft Picks: Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, Wyatt Langford First Spring Training Looks

Last summer, three players from the Southeastern Conference were selected inside the top three picks in the Major League Draft. Those players are Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews, and Wyatt Langford.

Let's take a look at how each prospect is doing in their first spring training as professional players.

Paul Skenes: Pittsburgh Pirates

Paul Skenes was the first overall pick in the 2023 Major League Draft. He was easily the best pitcher in the country for the LSU Tigers.

Skenes made his professional debut shortly after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. With three minor league teams for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Skenes pitched 6.2 innings and had an earned run average of 5.40 with 10 strikeouts.

Small sample size for sure, but Spring Training has been even better for Skenes this year. Through two outtings, he has an earned run average of 3.00 in three innings pitched with three strikeouts. His fastball has topped out at 102 miles per hour, which is something incredible for the Pirates.

Although this is a very small sample size, the future is very bright for Skenes. Expect him to begin the season in the minor leagues, but get called up in May or June.

Dylan Crews: Washington Nationals

Dylan Crews was the second overall pick in the 2023 Major League Draft. He was arguably the best outfielder in the country for the LSU Tigers.

Crews made his professional debut a little before Skenes in the Washington Nationals organization. In his first shot of professional baseball, Crews had a batting average of .292 with five home runs and 29 rubs batted in. He also had an OPS of .844, which included a .377 on-base percentage and a .467 slugging percentage.

So far in Spring Training, Crews has not seen the same amount of success as last season. Through 21 at bats, Crews has a batting average of .190 with a home run and four runs batted in. He also has an OPS of .749, which includes an on-base percentage of .320 and a slugging percentage of .429.

Crews will start the year in the minor leagues, but I expect him to make his major league debut late in the season.

Wyatt Langford: Texas Rangers

Wyatt Langford was the third overall pick in the 2023 Major League Draft. Most people say Crews is better than Langford, but he is still an elite prospect from the Florida Gators.

Langford made his professional debut before both Skenes and Crews. He also played so well that he got promoted to AAA in his first season of professional baseball. In that first season, Langford had a batting average of .360 with 10 home runs and 30 runs batted in. He also had an OPS of 1.157, which included an on-base percentage of .480 and a slugging percentage of .677.

In his first Spring Training, Langford has continued to swing a hot bat. Through 25 at bats, Langford has a batting average of .360 with four home runs and nine runs batted in. He also has an OPS of 1.292, which includes an on-base percentage of .452 and a slugging percentage of .840.

Langford has a very good opportunity to begin the season with the Texas Rangers. He has been the most productive out of the top three draft picks.

Keep an eye out for these former SEC baseball players in professional baseball.