ESPN analyst Chris Burke previews Tennessee vs LSU baseball series and its stars | Adams

If you had no rooting interest in either Tennessee or LSU, you still could be attracted to their three-game baseball series, which begins Thursday night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

“You could have the first three picks in the next MLB Draft on the field,” ESPN baseball analyst Chris Burke told Knox News.

Burke, a former Tennessee baseball star, was referring to UT pitcher Chase Dollander, LSU pitcher Paul Skenes and LSU outfielder Dylan Crews.

Crews' batting average suggests he’s playing slow-pitch softball. He began the week batting .531 with nine home runs.

Some of the compliments he has received are more eye-popping than his stats.

“Dylan Crews is the best baseball player I’ve ever seen,” LSU coach Jay Johnson said. “Not just the best college player – the best baseball player.”

Just calling him “the best LSU baseball player of all-time” would be a compliment. Some longtime followers of the program think he’s just that.

When ESPN selected its all-time college baseball team a few years ago, it picked three LSU players – pitcher Ben McDonald and infielders Todd Walker, and Alex Bregman, who currently stars for the defending world champion Houston Astros.

Based on Crews’ college career, he’s in the same elite class.

“The thing I love about Dylan Crews is that he’s gotten better in every area each year,” Burke said. “He’s gotten extremely strong and increased his athleticism.”

Skenes is known for his versatility as well as his talent. He hit 24 home runs in two seasons at Air Force, where he caught as well as pitched. He has yet to bat at LSU but has pitched sensationally.

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“His average fastball velocity is 98 (miles per hour),” Burke said. “He has topped out at 102. He’s pitching with a whole different level of swagger. He knows he’s the biggest, baddest dude on the field.”

As overpowering as the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Skenes has been, Burke still believes Tennessee has a slight pitching advantage in the SEC series.

“I think if you were doing a tale of the tape, you would give Tennessee the edge in pitching because of its talent from top to bottom,” Burke said. “Chase Burns looks fantastic. His stuff is electric. He could be the first player drafted (in the 2024 class).

Burns has struck out 59 batters in 34.2 innings. Dollander has struck out 53 in 34.1 innings. But, as their earned-run averages would attest, they have struggled at times. Burnes has a 4.15 ERA, and Dollander, a 3.93 ERA.

Dollander also hasn’t been as sharp in the early innings. In a matchup with Skenes, he will need to be at his best right away.

“You can’t give up two in the first and hope your team puts up a five spot (against Skenes),” Burke said. “Dollander has got to keep the ball out of the middle of the plate. I don’t think his stuff is the issue. And it’s not a control issue. It’s a command issue.”

Defense also could be a factor in the series. The Vols have committed 10 errors in their first six SEC games.

Balancing offense and defense could be a challenge for Tennessee coach Tony Vitello in this series. He has repeatedly juggled his outfield in search of that balance.

For example, he inserted light-hitting Christian Scott in right field against Texas A&M on Sunday. The move paid off. Scott again proved his defensive prowess by making a diving catch to save two runs.

Outfield defense could be paramount at Alex Box Stadium, where the fences are deeper than at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. However, Vitello also needs to assemble a lineup that can keep pace with the high-scoring Tigers.

Whether on offense or defense, UT’s margin for error will be small.

“To win the series, Tennessee will have to get clutch hitting and play elite-level defense,” Burke said. “It can’t give LSU extra outs.”

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: ESPN analyst Chris Burke previews Tennessee vs LSU baseball series