Two months and one day into his major league career, the Pirates ace Paul Skenes he was named a starter for the National League All-Star team. NL All-Star manager Torey Lovullo of the Diamondbacks called The Dan Patrick Show this morning during an interview with Skenes this morning and informed the 22-year-old of the decision live on air (video link). Major League Baseball announced the decision shortly thereafter. Skenes becomes the first rookie since then Hideo Nomo in 1995 to be named the league's first player of the Midsummer Classic. Coincidentally, that year's All-Star Game also took place in Arlington — as will next week's event.
Skenes, No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, has clearly announced himself as one of the game's best hitters in a short period of time. The term “meteoric rise” is thrown around perhaps too carelessly, but it is appropriate – if not an understatement – when it reflects the rise of Skenes to his current state. The 6'6″, 235-pound flamethrower hit three runs in four innings in his MLB debut … and has given up all 11 runs in 10 starts and 62 innings 1/ 3 are included.
Since making his major league debut on May 11, Skenes leads all NL pitchers with a 1.90 ERA and trails only the White Sox ace. Garrett Crochet (1.84) for MLB to lead in that. The great Skenes' 34.9% strikeout rate is also the highest of all NL pitchers during that span and trails only Crochet (35.2%) for the major league lead.
Opponents have turned in a miserable .202/.251/.319 line against the former LSU ace in 255 trips to the plate so far in his big league career. Since his debut, Skenes is 22nd in the majors in innings pitched, first in strikeouts, has the 10th fewest walks, and has posted an undefeated 6-0 record. Amazingly, he is the only one of 77 professional baseball starters who hasn't lost a single since May 11th.
Skenes was ejected in last night's outing in Milwaukee after pitching seven scoreless innings and striking out 11 of 23 batters on the road. The right-hander hit 99 pitches, and the Pirates chose to recognize their rising star rather than extend his current career high of 107 pitches in pursuit of that milestone. Now, Skenes will make a different kind of history when he takes the rubber next week in the sport's final midseason showdown.
Outstanding debuts not only for Skenes but his colleagues Jared Jones changed the Pirates' rotation and its long-term appearance. Pittsburgh controls both pitchers for more than half a decade — Skenes through at least 2030 (pending Rookie of the Year voting), Jones through 2029 — adding high-octane arms to the lineup. Mitch Keller (3.40 ERA in 111 1/3 innings) over the team's rotation for the foreseeable future. Keller signed a five-year, $77MM contract covering the 2024-28 seasons during spring training.
Source link
