Paul Skenes has been in the big leagues with the Pittsburgh Pirates for just over two months.
And in that time, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has taken the league by storm — while also adding a fresh chapter to the excitement surrounding America’s past time as one of the sports’ exciting young talents.
His reward? Becoming the first rookie starting pitcher to start an All-Star Game in nearly three decades with the Los Angeles Dodgers Hideo Nomo being the last one in 1995. The former LSU baseball star pitcher will start Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas at 8 p.m. ET.
“The goal was to be in the major leagues and to hopefully be an effective big league starter by this time,” said Skenes Monday during his press conference on what his goal was this time last year when he was taken in the MLB draft to now. “I didn’t necessarily think I would be here (at the All-Star Game).
Skenes takes the bump Tuesday for the National League with a 6-0 record and 1.90 ERA in 66 1/3 innings pitched with 89 strikeouts across 11 starts. His final start before the All-Star break vs. the Milwaukee Brewers July 11 was massively impressive as he struck out 11 hitters across seven no-hit innings. It was the second time this season that Skenes struck out 11 through at least six no-hit innings, putting him with Nolan Ryan as the only two pitchers in MLB history to have accomplished this feat twice in a season.
All things Pirates: Latest Pittsburgh Pirates…
