Pirates rookie Paul Skenes to start in 2024 MLB All-Star Game for National League

On the heels of perhaps his finest MLB start to date, Paul Skenes has been bestowed a rare honor: the Pirates right-hander was named the National League’s starting pitcher for the 2024 All-Star Game on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The 22-year-old learned he’d start the game while appearing on the Dan Patrick Show on Friday. National League All-Star manager Torey Lovullo called into the show to tell Skenes he’d get the ball from the outset of the midsummer classic.

Lovullo later appeared on SiriusXM MLB Network Radio to discuss the decision.

“It’s such a well-deserved honor for him,” Lovullo said. “And, you know, it was one that took me in different directions. I wanted to make sure that I spent the right amount of time asking questions about who would be the best candidate.

“A few really, really good candidates dropped off due to injury or the fact that they were pitching on Sunday. And, you know, the answer just became more and more clear. And then certainly what Paul did yesterday really, really hammered down the thought that he should be the guy.”

Skenes will become just the fifth rookie in MLB history to start an All-Star Game. He’s the first rookie since Hideo Nomo did so with the Dodgers in 1995 and the first Pirates pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Jerry Reuss in 1975. Skenes’ 11 career games are also the fewest by an All-Star at the time of the game.

Skenes, 22, has gone 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA through the first 11 starts of his MLB career. His ERA would be the lowest among all MLB pitchers if he qualified with enough innings. Whenever he’s toed the rubber this season, Skenes has been among the league’s most dominant hurlers.

“It is pretty remarkable,” right fielder Joshua Palacios said about Skenes. “He’s not just handling his business — he’s straight up dominating. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this.”

On Thursday against the Brewers, Skenes tossed seven no-hit innings while striking out 11. In the process, Skenes joined Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan as the only pitchers in MLB history to have multiple starts with no hits and 11 or more strikeouts in a season. Skenes also struck out 11 batters during his second career start, one in which he held the Cubs hitless for six frames.

Aside from those masterful performances, Skenes has put up a plethora of stellar starts, even when he doesn’t have his best stuff. The most earned runs Skenes has allowed in a game this season is three, which he’s done twice.

Only eight runs have come across in his other nine appearances which span 57 1/3 innings.

“I don’t think anybody thinks that when you come to the big leagues, it’s going to be like this,” manager Derek Shelton said after Thursday’s game.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft is also the first top selection to be named to an All-Star Game the season after he was chosen. Shortly after learning he’d start this year’s game, Skenes said on Patrick’s show that he hopes he’ll get more excited once it’s his turn to pitch — as well as have a full night’s sleep under his belt before the spectacle.

“I haven’t put much thought into it because I have been getting asked about it a little bit the past few days,” Skenes said. “And I haven’t given much thought into it, just because I had the game [Thursday] obviously, too.

“So, now I can focus my attention on that. But that’s pretty dang cool.”