Skenes And Crews Moved Up, Less Than Two Months After 2023 MLB Draft

[LSUDad]

Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews both promoted to Double-A less than two months after 2023 MLB Draft

By R.J. Anderson

 

2 hrs ago

 

Last week, Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel became the first member of the 2023 draft class to reach the majors. Schanuel, the No. 11 pick, isn't the only high pick on the rise. Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, old LSU teammates and the top two selections in the 2023 MLB Draft, are also moving on up.

Skenes, a right-hander in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, was bumped up on Monday to their Double-A affiliate in Altoona. He's expected to make his first start for the Curve on Saturday. Skenes has made three professional starts to date, including two in the Florida State League. He's compiled five strikeouts over four innings of work (the Pirates are taking it slow given his workload at LSU), all the while surrendering just one hit and no runs or walks. 

Crews, an outfielder with the Washington Nationals, was also promoted to Double-A on Sunday night. He spent 14 games at the Low-A level, batting .355/.423/.645 with five home runs, 24 RBI, and a stolen base. Crews will be joining the Nationals' Double-A affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators.

Both Skenes and Crews seem certain to make their big-league debuts within a year of being selected, even if they don't necessarily see the majors before this season ends.

By the way, Skenes and Crews aren't the only notable prospects about to make their debuts at the Double-A level. San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas, who just celebrated his 17th birthday in June, was also promoted on Sunday night -- that despite spending less than two weeks at the High-A level. 

Double-A is widely considered to be the biggest test a prospect will face on their journey to the majors. With that in mind, we're likely about to see why Skenes, Crews, and Salas are so well regarded within the industry.

[LSUDad]

My BIL sent this to me:

 

Seats for Paul Skenes’ Double-A debut sell out... in less than 24 hours - Bucs Dugout

[LSUDad]

My Brother-in-Law sent me this, Harrisburg is 2 hours from me. Altoona is 4 hours away.  
He keeps me up when LSU and Louisiana guys are playing.

[dachsie]

So question - are all these farm teams in the same area?  I mean, does a player rent an apt them find out a month later they are moving on to a different city and then get moved again a month later, etc or does the organization provide them housing?

[Hatchertiger]

12 hours ago, dachsie said:

So question - are all these farm teams in the same area?  I mean, does a player rent an apt them find out a month later they are moving on to a different city and then get moved again a month later, etc or does the organization provide them housing?

Quote

By Major League Baseball

November 18, 2021

•  

 

As a continuation of their commitment to a first-class player development system, Major League Baseball’s owners on Thursday announced a new Minor League Housing Policy that is expected to provide more than 90 percent of assigned Minor League players across every level with furnished housing accommodations at each Major League Club’s expense beginning with the 2022 season.

The Minor League Housing Policy is designed to provide Minor League players, with limited exceptions (i.e., players with existing Major League Uniform Player Contracts (UPC) or those scheduled to earn six-figure Minor League salaries over a full season), with housing while they are playing or practicing at any Professional Development License (PDL) level (i.e., Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Low-A) or Spring Training Complex (e.g., Extended Spring Training, Arizona Complex League, etc.) under their Minor League UPC.

This program is the next phase of MLB owners’ dedication to addressing longstanding issues that have impacted Minor League players. The completed 2021 season, which was the first to take place under the new model for player development that was announced this past February, saw increased salaries, improved facilities and reduced in-season travel as initial steps.

The 2021 Minor League season saw teams successfully return to the field, while implementing new features that have benefited players and fans. In modernizing the player development system, MLB sought to better serve fans, players and Clubs and to preserve high-level, sustainable baseball in communities all across America and position the sport for growth in future years. Working with Major and Minor League Club officials, coaches, players, and local leaders, MLB has made significant progress towards these goals.

“The owners went into our first season modernizing the player development system focused on addressing longstanding issues that have impacted Minor League players for decades. As part of the new system, owners increased salaries from 38-72 percent for 2021, improved facilities, provided more amenities and better clubhouse conditions, removed all clubhouse dues, and reduced in-season travel with better geographical alignment,” said Morgan Sword, MLB’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. “Owners knew that a change of this scale always meant that more work would need to be done to achieve our shared goals. This step forward recognizes that the unprecedented nature of the past two years has further exacerbated affordable housing challenges across the country that existed before the pandemic. The owners are confident that this investment will help ensure that Minor League players have every opportunity to achieve their dreams of becoming Major Leaguers.”

https://www.milb.com/news/mlb-owners-to-provide-housing-to-minor-league-players-beginning-in-2022

[Nutriaitch]

11 hours ago, dachsie said:

So question - are all these farm teams in the same area?  I mean, does a player rent an apt them find out a month later they are moving on to a different city and then get moved again a month later, etc or does the organization provide them housing?

the cities aren't close enough to stay living in one while playing in another.
and in some cases they are not anywhere even remotely close.

Skenes is moving from Bradenton, FL to Altoona, PA

 

 

[dachsie]

3 hours ago, Hatchertiger said:

https://www.milb.com/news/mlb-owners-to-provide-housing-to-minor-league-players-beginning-in-2022

That says if making 6 figures, they don't get it.  Wonder what these guys do.  I mean they dont want to sign a lease.

[Nutriaitch]

2 hours ago, dachsie said:

That says if making 6 figures, they don't get it.  Wonder what these guys do.  I mean they dont want to sign a lease.

neither are making six figures.
only minor leaguers bringing in that money are those that have already spent time in the Bigs, or have at least been on 40 man rosters for 3+ years.

their signing bonuses are not considered part of their salary.
so both now moving up to AA ball will get a pro-rated Salary in the upper teens to maybe mid 20s or so.

I don't know for sure, but I'd be willing to bet there areLandlords in MiLB cities that work out deals with the club and offer short term rentals without having to sign leases.