Paul Skenes, the 22-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, became the center of attention in Arlington, Texas, during an All-Star event filled with seasoned players. Despite his youthful appearance in a light gray suit and his limited major league experience, Skenes stood out.
“It’s pretty dang cool,” Skenes remarked, expressing his excitement. He is set to start the All-Star Game for the National League, making history with the fewest big league games in the showcase’s 91-year history. His unique pitch, the splinker—a hybrid that behaves like both a splitter and a sinker—has garnered much attention.
National League manager Torey Lovullo of Arizona praised Skenes, saying, “He’s very intriguing to me, and I’m honored to sit next to him.”
Although flattered by the praise, Skenes remains humble about his accomplishments. “It’s an honor, but I’m 11 starts in,” he said. “Hopefully, there’s a lot more time that I can play this game.”
Last year, Skenes was the top pick in the amateur draft, fresh off an NCAA title with LSU. Now, he boasts a 6-0 record with a 1.90 ERA, striking out 89 and walking 13 in 66 1/3 innings.
Cleveland’s Steven Kwan will be the first to face Skenes during the game. Kwan learned of his leading role for the American League through a group text from his parents. Baltimore’s Corbin Burnes will start for the American League.
Kwan, who leads the major leagues with a .352 average, is eager to face Skenes’ diverse pitches, including fastballs, splitters, sliders, curves, and changeups. Skenes’ average fastball velocity of 99.1 mph is the highest among those with at least 1,000 pitches in the majors.
“It’s generational talent,” Kwan commented. “The guy has all of the pressure on him and people probably naturally want to see him fail because of that, but he continues to excel, he continues to succeed. He says the right things. It seems like his teammates really like him.”
Skenes, standing 6-foot-6, has already delivered two hitless outings of six or more innings, often limited by modern pitch counts. He entered the major leagues with a notable presence and a famous girlfriend, gymnast/influencer Livvy Dunne.
Sporting a mustache, Skenes combines a classic baseball look with modern practices, such as warming up with footballs and weighted balls. He initially attended El Toro High School, known for producing MLB talents like Nolan Arenado, Matt Chapman, and Austin Romine. Starting his college career at the Air Force Academy as both a catcher and pitcher, Skenes later transferred to LSU to focus solely on pitching.
Skenes developed his signature splinker by experimenting with different grips and release techniques. This pitch, classified as a splitter by Statcast, averages 94.1 mph—significantly above the MLB average of 86.5 mph.
Skenes’ journey from rookie ball to his major league debut has been rapid. He warmed up to Charles Wesley Godwin’s “Cue Country Roads” for his debut at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park on May 11. With 75 pitches clocked at 100 mph, he leads all starters in this category.
After Kwan, Skenes will face Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson, the Yankees’ Juan Soto, and potentially home run leader Aaron Judge.
“He’s got a 100 mile-an-hour four-seam and I see it as a 95, 96 mile-an-hour two-seam fastball,” said the Mets’ Pete Alonso, who has faced Skenes. “So for me it’s just getting ready to hit 100 and then everything else seems semi-hittable if it’s over the plate.”
Despite his rapid rise, Skenes remains modest about his future. “I didn’t necessarily think I would be here,” he admitted.
In related news, Teoscar Hernández of the Los Angeles Dodgers won the Home Run Derby, defeating Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. in the final round.