Pirates’ Ace Paul Skenes Tosses Scoreless Inning in All-Star Debut; Highlights

All eyes are on the 2024 MLB All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas, and Pittsburgh Pirates’ prized rookie Paul Skenes took the mound in the bottom of the first inning.

Skenes became the first Pirates’ starter since Jerry Reuss in 1975 to start an All-Star Game and the first ever player drafted No. 1 to start the Midsummer Classic the very next year.

The Pirates had the second-longest active drought without a pitcher starting the All-Star Game. The Chicago Cubs have not had one since Claude Passeau in 1946.

In his first All-Star Game appearance, the rookie phenom tossed a scoreless inning against the American League’s best. The AL rallied for a 5-3 win in a game in which Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds went 1 for 2.

Skenes opened the bottom of the first with a 98 mph fastball at the top of the zone which was fouled off by Steven Kwan. The right-hander eventually retired Kwan on a groundout three pitches later.

After getting Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson to bounce out, the Pirates’ rookie issued a walk to Yankees right fielder Juan Soto, setting the stage for the moment many wanted to see.

Before Skenes walked Soto, he induced an ugly swing and miss with a devastating splinker.

The Skenes Splinker. pic.twitter.com/8WQvnWbIHw

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2024

But then, Skenes got a chance to face American League MVP favorite Aaron Judge, though the at-bat didn’t last long. On the first pitch, a 99 mph fastball, Skenes got the imposing Judge to bounce into a routine 5-4 fielder’s choice for the final out of the inning.

Paul Skenes vs. Aaron Judge 👀

(🎥: @MLBONFOX)pic.twitter.com/pKwNTH1Hf7

— theScore (@theScore) July 17, 2024

The 22-year-old Skenes threw 16 pitches and 11 for strikes. Two of those pitches were clocked at 100 mph.

In case it wasn’t already apparent, Skenes has proved once again the moment is never too big. The rookie sensation held his own with the baseball world tuned in to watch — even more than an ordinary ‘Skenes Day.’

Skenes became the fifth rookie starter after Dave Stenhouse (1962), Mark Fidrych (1976), Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Hideo Nomo (1995).

Reynolds singled off the Kansas City Royals’ Seth Lugo in the seventh inning but struck out against the Cleveland Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase to end the game. It was Reynolds’ second All-Star Game appearance.

No matter the occasion, Bryan Reynolds gets on base. pic.twitter.com/bAz3HkWhm2

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2024

Boston Red Sox center fielder Jarren Duran was named the game’s MVP. His two-run homer off the Cincinnati Reds’ Hunter Greene in the fifth inning broke a 3-3 tie and proved to be the game-winning hit.,