Has Skylar King filled the shoes Victor Scott II left behind?

Skylar King has emerged as a force for the West Virginia Mountaineers, filling the deep void left by Victor Scott II’s departure to professional baseball. Where Victor Scott II once dazzled with his speed and defensive prowess, King has stepped in with a lethal bat and a refined mental approach, showcasing his growth and potential.

Victor Scott was a standout outfielder for the Mountaineers from 2020 to 2022. In his freshman season with the Mountaineers, Scott obtained Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team honors while hitting a .222 average, putting up a double, a home run, three triples, and six runs scored on the season. In addition, Scott was tied for 10th place nationally in triples as he hit three.

His sophomore season proved to be even more dominant than his last as Scott obtained Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors for the second year in a row and obtained a .232 batting average. Scott hit 23 RBIs in 51 games played, 47 of which he started. Scott had a career year at the plate, racking up seven doubles, one triple and four home runs, and he led the team with 20 stolen bases.

Scott’s junior season is where he shined brightest and was the determining factor that led to him being drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Cardinals. Scott’s batting average jumped up to .278 and he started in every single game he played in. Scott recorded a career-high 12 doubles and 47 RBIs that year as well.

A player who puts up numbers the way Victor Scott did does not come around often, but luckily for the Mountaineers, they had found a talented recruit who would possibly be the future of their program. In his true freshman season, Skylar King played in 17 total games, only starting twice. However, King hit his way into a .227 batting average, recording three RBIs and four runs scored.

After a promising freshman campaign, King cemented himself as one of the starters entering his sophomore year, as King played in 58 games with 45 starts. King boasted a .258 batting average, tallying five home runs and 26 RBIs. In addition, King racked up nine stolen bases, which was third on the team.

Now, in his junior season with the Mountaineers, King is putting up historic numbers for the Mountaineers as he has notably obtained a career-high .364 batting average and has started in all 38 games this season. His contributions have helped lead the Mountaineers to the program’s 35-4 record and the No. 24 ranking in the country. While Victor Scott II was a vital piece of the West Virginia outfield, Skylar King has come in and replaced the daunting void Scott left while he went on to chase his dreams in the MLB.