Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes made the All-Star team, and some MLB history in the process
On Sunday Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes was named to the MLB All-Star Team. It is a tremendous accomplishment for the rookie right-hander, acknowledging a stellar start to his MLB career. Through just ten MLB starts Skenes is 5-0 for the Pirates, posting an ERA of 2.12 and a WHIP of 1.01.
That All-Star nod also made MLB history.
Skenes became the first player in MLB history to make an All-Star team just one year after being the first-overall selection in the MLB Draft. As many expected the Pirates made Skenes the No. 1 pick a year ago, drafting him first overall just weeks after he helped the LSU Tigers win the Men’s College World Series.
Now he is headed to the All-Star Game.
After the announcement, Skenes admitted that pitching in the Midsummer Classic was not on his radar when the season began.
“Obviously, starting the year in Triple-A, the odds of going to the Major League All-Star Game are pretty slim, so that wasn’t one of my goals necessarily or expectations for this season,” said Skenes. “It’s just a huge honor that I’m able to do it, after playing just a short span in the big leagues.”
Skenes is also the first Pirates rookie pitcher to make an All-Star game. He is the first Pittsburgh rookie to make the Midsummer Classic since Tony Womack back in 1997.
This is not the only record Skenes has set in recent days. He struck out eight in his last start, which came Friday against the New York Mets. That was the ninth time in his ten MLB starts that he recorded seven or more strikeouts, setting a new record for any pitcher in their first ten games.
Something tells us he will be setting more records as the season rolls on.
