Paul Skenes selected to first MLB All-Star game as rookie

Former LSU pitcher Paul Skenes has had an impressive rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates after the former No. 1 overall pick was called up to the major leagues in May. Which has now led to the first All-Star Game selection of his career.

Skenes has officially made the 2024 All-Star team, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick in MLB history to become an All-Star the following season. As he’ll represent the National League and the Pirates in Arlington, Texas for the 2024 All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16 at Globe Life Field among a star-studded lineup.

Since his call up, Skenes has appeared and started in 10 games for Pittsburgh with an impressive 5-0 record on the mound. Posting a 2.12 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP so far in his rookie season with 78 strikeouts and just 12 base on balls in his 59.1 innings pitched. Known for his 100+ mile per hour fastball that’s given hitters problems in the batter’s box this season.

Skenes spent the first two seasons of his college career at Air Force where he was named a two-time First-Team All-American. Transferring to LSU ahead of the 2023 season where he’d help lead the Tigers to a national championship victory in Omaha, named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player and winner of the Dick Howser Trophy after being named the Player and Pitcher of the Year by several publications. Leading the nation with 209 strikeouts.

After being selected by the Pirates with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and signing the highest-ever signing bonus for a drafted player ($9.2 million), Skenes quickly made his way up Pittsburgh’s minor league ranks. Making quick stops with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Pirates, the Single-A Bradenton Marauders, and the Double-A Altoona Curve before starting the 2024 season with the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians.

With the Indians, Skenes posted a 0.99 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 27.1 innings before being called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 11 for his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs and the rest would be history. As the right-handed rookie phenom has continued to translate his dominance from high school, to college, and all the way to the highest level of baseball. With some even believing that Skenes should potentially start for the National League team next week.

“I truly do believe that people would tune in to watch Paul Skenes pitch,” MLB insider Jeff Pasan said. “Preferably at the beginning of the game, though there were a lot of people who responded within the industry to that idea of Paul Skenes starting over say Ranger Suárez or Chris Sale with, ‘Come on, you gotta earn it.'”

“Well what I think is that Paul Skenes has earned the eyeballs of people who want to watch baseball and that is what the All-Star Game is about.”