INDIANAPOLIS — Rookie Paul Skenes, the number one overall pick in the MLB draft, was announced as the National League starting pitcher for Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas.
Skenes has been dazzling crowds with a magnificent rookie year as a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. But Indianapolis fans were the first to get a look at Skenes playing professional ball.
Skenes' stint as an Indianapolis Indian, the Triple-A affiliate of the Pirates, was a short one. Skenes started seven games for the Indians where he pitched 27 1/3 innings and racked up 45 strikeouts. Opponents batted .175 against him, and he allowed just three runs for an impressive 0.99 ERA.
Skenes was a star for the LSU Tigers before being snagged as the No. 1 pick by the Pirates in last year's draft.
Skenes was called up to the majors in May where he quickly made a name for himself in The Show, being named an All-Star as a rookie and now being announced as the starting pitcher for the National League.
Skenes is the first rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game since 1995's contest in Arlington, Texas, where Hideo Nomo started for the National League. According to the Baseball Reference website, Nomo, representing the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time, threw two innings, struck three batters out and gave up one hit.
The 2024 All-Star Game will be broadcasted at 8 p.m. on Tuesday on FOX59. It can also be streamed on Fubo and MLB.TV.