Former LSU Tiger Paul Skenes deserves to be in Texas for the All-Star Game
![Jun 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Jun 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3450,h_1940,x_0,y_104/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/162/01j1383f1vt56q0hsknt.jpg)
After being picked first overall in the MLB Draft it's hard to live up to the hype associated with being picked so highly. It's even harder to prove you were the rightful first-overall pick less than one year after you were drafted. Thus far, Paul Skenes has lived up to if not exceeded the hype placed upon him after his incredible college season.
Through eight starts in the MLB, Skenes has pitched 47.1 innings with a 2.15 ERA while striking out 61 batters. Batters have struggled to figure out Skenes as well as he's allowed just 38 hits and eight walks early on.
A Pitcher that throws as hard as Skenes is probably tailing off towards the end of his starts right? Wrong as Skenes dialed up 102 MPH on his 98th pitch in his latest start to get the Strikeout:
Paul Skenes dials it up to 102 to get his 8th strikeout of the day. 😎 pic.twitter.com/LukBwwRu7Y
— MLB (@MLB) June 23, 2024
The issue is, as a Rookie who was called up in the middle of the season, it'll be an uphill battle for Paul Skenes getting into the All Star Game especially as it's a traditionally veteran led event. But, if we're truly putting the biggest stars in the game why should Skenes be held out?
Skenes doesn't have enough innings pitched to qualify as a stats leader but, his 2.15 ERA would ranks third in the MLB behind Ranger Suarez's 1.75 ERA and Tanner Houck's 2.14 ERA.
MLB needs to embrace Skene's Stardom this year
There's seemingly no pitcher that's appointment television more than Paul Skenes this season. What better way to get fans who haven't seen Skenes to watch him than allowing him to pitch in the All-Star Game? This season, Skenes is looking like the favorite to win National League Rookie of The Year and if he was called up to start the season he'd be a Cy Young Candidate so why hold one of the best pitchers out of the game?
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