Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes was announced as the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field.
The decision was made by Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, who is at the helm of the NL All-Stars due to his club reaching the World Series last year. Lovullo informed Skenes of his All-Star start by calling into the “Dan Patrick Show” during the rookie’s interview.
Skenes is just removed from throwing seven no-hit innings against the Milwaukee Brewers and tying a career high with 11 strikeouts.
Since making his MLB debut on May 11, he’s gone 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA across 11 starts. Included in that is finishing with at least eight strikeouts in eight of those outings, and allowing one run or fewer in seven of them.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were a bit of an outlier as they scored three runs against the right-hander last month. Skenes struck out eight batters over five innings but also surrendered home runs to Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages.
Since May 11, Skenes leads the Majors in strikeouts (89), ranks second in ERA and fourth in WHIP (0.92).
Paul Skenes makes MLB All-Star Game history
Skenes is the first player to be selected to an All-Star Game in the same season he was drafted. The Pirates used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft to take the fireballer out of LSU.
Skenes additionally is the first rookie pitcher to start in the All-Star Game since Hideo Nomo did so while representing the Dodgers in 1995. Overall. Skenes is the fifth rookie to start in the Midsummer Classic.
Fernando Valenzuela remains the youngest National League pitcher to start in All-Star Game history, when he did so at 21 years old in 1981. Skenes is 22 years old and the sixth-youngest pitcher to ever start in the exhibition event.
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