Skenes 5th rookie starting pitcher in All-Star Game history

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s just another accomplishment that few others have done that Paul Skenes has, the Pirates rookie will be the starting pitcher for the National League in the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

Skenes becomes the fifth rookie pitcher to start an All-Star Game. The first was Dave Stenhouse in 1962 followed by Mark ‘The Bird’ Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Hideo Nomo (1995).

Skenes found out about it as he was a guest on the Dan Patrick Show as National League manager Torey Lovullo surprised him. Lovullo said on Thursday how it would be a tough decision, but the only name he mentioned, unprompted, was Skenes.

“That’s unbelievable, that’s awesome,” Skenes said on the Dan Patrick Show.

“So well deserved,” Lovullo said on the Dan Patrick Show. “We are super-excited to make this announcement. You represent so many great things that this game craves. It’s such a great story the way you’ve come on the scene and you’ve done it with great humbleness. It’s noticeable.”

The Pirates right-hander not only has never lost a start, he never left a game in 11 opportunities, with the Bucs trailing. The stats are 6-0, 1.90 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 13 walks, 89 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. That equates to a 12.08 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate while opponents hit .202 against him, the average is .135 with runners in scoring position. He has allowed one-or-fewer runs in seven of his starts and five of his last six.

Skenes tidbits
·     He is the first player to be selected to the All-Star Game as a starting pitcher in the season after he was drafted.
·     He’ll be the sixth youngest starting pitcher in All-Star Game history
·     Pirates broadcaster Joe Block points out it took 386 days to go from pitching in a college game to starting the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
·     ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan said Skenes will likely face Orioles slugger Gunnar Henderson followed by Yankees perennial all-stars Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.