7-12-24 – By Ethan Smith – @mvp_EtHaN on X
Paul Skenes has ripped through MLB and Pittsburgh Pirates franchise records in such a short time, and he’s adding to his list of accolades Tuesday, as Skenes will take the hill for the National League to start the 2024 All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas.
The news broke officially on the Dan Patrick Show, as National League manager and Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo surprised Skenes with the news that he would be starting.
Skenes has been historically superb to begin his MLB career, posting a 6-0 record with a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 66.1 IP over his first 12 starts. He also joined Nolan Ryan as only the second pitcher ever to record multiple starts in which he had at least 11 strikeouts while allowing no hits in six or more innings in his most recent outing versus the Milwaukee Brewers.
The LSU product also has the longest streak in Pirates history for consecutive starts with seven or more strikeouts, so his hypothetical trophy case is already filled with accolades that we’ve never seen before, and mind you, he’s doing this as a 22-year old rookie.
Skenes starting the All-Star Game is a no-brainer for the National League, and well, baseball, seeing as the mid-summer classic is designed to put eyes on the best players in the sport, and Skenes is playing like it right now. In all likelihood, he’ll likely pitch one frame, facing the likes of Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Gunnar Henderson, three of the brightest stars in baseball right now.
This will be the first time in MLB history that a rookie has gotten the nod to start in the All-Star game since 1995, when Hideo Nomo started for the National League as a representative of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fernando Valenzuela, Mark Fidrych and Dave Stenhouse round out the list of rookies to start in the mid-summer classic.
Skenes will also be the first Pirates pitcher to take the mound in an All-Star Game as a starter since Jerry Reuss in 1975.
It remains to be seen how the rest of 2024 will treat Skenes, but if he continues on his path of destruction that he’s laid out already, he may even find himself amidst the NL Cy Young conversation, alongside Phillies hurlers Zach Wheeler and Ranger Suarez as well as Braves left-hander Chris Sale.
Congrats to Skenes on a phenomenal accomplishment, and best of luck come Tuesday on the mound in Texas.
Steel City Pirates 