Tony Vitello has done a great job developing talent on Rocky Top, resulting in the program's first College World Series championship. His work developing players has also started translating to players becoming valuable assets in the MLB.
Mike Honcho a.k.a. Jordan Beck and the Colorado Rockies are wrapping up a weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the best pitcher in baseball, Paul Skenes, took the mound on Saturday for the Pirates.
💥HONCHO HOMER pic.twitter.com/MXkYf3u4iz
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) August 2, 2025
Skenes, the former LSU Tiger, has quickly become an elite pitcher and is widely regarded as one of the best pitchers in baseball since his MLB debut in 2024. He has posted a career 1.99 ERA and had a sub-two ERA this season before Beck's home run.
His ERA now stands at 2.02 for the year with six wins and 154 strikeouts so far this season. Skenes allowed just six home runs before Beck's 394-foot homer, his 13th home run of the year.
While Skenes has the best ERA in baseball and has shown he could be an elite pitcher for the next decade, Beck got the best of him on Saturday, going two-for-three at the plate.
Beck and the Rockies were able to secure the win, but Skenes was handed the no-decision after allowing four runs over five innings.
Beck, on the other hand, continues to impress in Colorado. He is a top-three hitter on the Rockies in his sophomore season. He holds a spot in the top three in hits, doubles, triples, and batting average. He is hitting .276 so far this season with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs as we inch closer to Fall baseball.
Unfortunately, the Rockies won't be playing a lot of meaningful baseball this Fall with a 30-80 record after Saturday's win.