Paul Skenes, the youngest starter in an MLB All-Star Game since 1986, made a remarkable debut in the game. The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher showed why he was chosen to start for the National League. Despite being drafted just a year ago, Skenes faced off against the top players from the American League in Arlington.
In his first inning, Skenes displayed his talent by throwing pitches at impressive speeds. He started with a 98 mph pitch to Steven Kwan, followed by a 94 mph sinker, and then a 100 mph heater that induced a popup. Although he walked Juan Soto, he managed to get Aaron Judge to ground out on the first pitch. Skenes faced some of the best hitters in the game and held his own, proving that he belongs among them.
While Skenes may not qualify for the ERA title this season due to his late call-up in May, his 1.90 ERA is still outstanding. He has a strikeout rate of 11.8 batters per nine innings, the second-best in the league for pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched. His ERA ranks second as well, just behind Reynaldo Lopez’s 1.88.
Despite only having 11 starts under his belt, Skenes has already taken two no-hitters deep into games, with one reaching the sixth inning and another the seventh. However, high pitch counts prevented him from completing those historic feats. At just 22 years old, Skenes is proving to be a promising talent in the MLB.
As he continues to impress on the field, fans and analysts are eagerly watching Skenes’ career unfold. His performance in the All-Star Game solidified his status as a rising star in the league. With his impressive pitching skills and ability to face off against top hitters, Skenes has a bright future ahead of him in Major League Baseball.
