Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes made history last year with his extraordinary rookie performance, achieving an ERA+ over 200 across more than 125 innings pitched—the first player to do so since Ed Reulbach in 1905. Skenes recorded a 216 ERA+ during 133 innings, marking him as one of the most dominant rookie pitchers in modern Major League Baseball history. Additionally, he was only the sixth rookie to register a strikeout rate (K/9) above 11 and the seventh rookie since MLB integration to maintain a WHIP below 1.00, all while pitching at least 125 innings.
Historic All-Star Game Selection After Only 11 Starts
Among Skenes’ standout accomplishments was his selection to the MLB All-Star Game after just 11 starts—the fewest ever by a rookie. At the time of the All-Star break, Skenes held a 2.12 ERA and a 2.78 FIP. His control was exceptional, issuing only 12 walks alongside 78 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. This outstanding performance earned him the honor of starting the All-Star Game for the National League, a distinction shared by only a select group of rookies including Hideo Nomo, Fernando Valenzuela, Mark Fidrych, and Dave Stenhouse.
Jacob Misiorowski Breaks Skenes’ All-Star Start Record
However, Skenes’ record stood for only one year, as division rival Jacob Misiorowski earned an All-Star selection after just five starts. Misiorowski, another right-handed flamethrower, posted a 2.81 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 11 walks over 25 2/3 innings. While impressive, Misiorowski’s rapid selection overlooks the fact that Skenes had over twice as many starts and innings pitched at the time of his nomination, highlighting a significant difference in the contexts of their achievements.
Comparing Performance Metrics Between Skenes and Misiorowski
At the time of his All-Star nod, Skenes controlled the game on a different level. Despite pitching more than twice as many innings as Misiorowski currently has, Skenes allowed just one additional walk. Moreover, Skenes’ FIP was nearly a full point lower, at 2.78 compared to Misiorowski’s 3.85. Skenes allowed more than two earned runs in only two starts, never exceeding three runs in any outing, whereas Misiorowski had a rough start against the New York Mets, surrendering five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings during only his fourth Major League appearance.
Other National League Pitchers Deserving Recognition
The selection of Misiorowski also raises questions about the omission of several other National League starters who have delivered strong performances. Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Christopher Sanchez, for example, boasts a 165 ERA+ and a sub-3.00 FIP through 106 1/3 innings pitched. Despite missing time this season, New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga still holds a 1.39 ERA over 77 2/3 innings. Additionally, Phillies’ Ranger Suarez, who missed about a month, maintains a strong 1.99 ERA and 2.98 FIP in 77 innings. These pitchers have demonstrated consistent effectiveness and arguably merit All-Star consideration.
Evaluating the Timing and Justification of the Recent All-Star Selection
Although Misiorowski’s upper-90s sliders and pitching style have captured attention on platforms like Pitching Ninja, his All-Star selection after fewer than 30 innings and five starts seems premature given the statistical and experiential comparison with Skenes. Skenes’ achievement of earning an All-Star start with nearly 60 innings and a more dominant performance poses a compelling argument that the current selection may undervalue established rookie accomplishments. Additionally, several other National League pitchers with more extensive bodies of work might be considered more deserving at this stage of the season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did anyone pull the Paul Skenes?
A. The family first interacted with Fanatics Collect on January 2. After 19 days, Topps revealed that an 11-year-old found the Skenes card in just one hobby box.
Q. How does Livvy Dunne know Paul Skenes?
A. The website mentions that Dunne shared their meeting story on SportsCenter. During that time, Skenes played baseball for LSU. Dunne, who also attended LSU while excelling as a gymnast, said on SportsCenter, “I saw him in the dugout and thought he was cute.”
Q. How much did Paul Skenes get?
A. Paul Skenes worked his way through the minor leagues and started playing in Major League Baseball in 2024. He received a $9.2 million signing bonus in 2023. In 2024, Skenes signed a one-year deal with the Pirates, earning $740,000 before arbitration.