Every few years, college baseball is blessed with a truly elite pitching talent who acquires the label of “generational,” whether that title is deserved or not.
San Diego State’s Stephen Strasburg (2009) and Arkansas’ Kevin Kopps (2021) were both able to bring home the Golden Spikes Award, a rare feat for pitchers, while Paul Skenes (2023) led LSU to a national title with a historic season. Hagen Smith’s 2024 season with the Razorbacks is up there, as well.
Kopps’ age (24 when drafted) hurt his MLB Draft stock, but the other three were all selected in the top five picks – Skenes and Strasburg went first overall.