Paul Skenes letting loose during All-Star Game should send message to Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes was named the National League's starting pitcher for the second consecutive year at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, becoming the first pitcher ever to start on the mound at the Midsummer Classic in his first two Major League seasons. In traditional, record-breaking fashion, Skenes' second start was somehow even more impressive than his first.

It took just 14 pitches – 12 of which were four-seam fastballs, and 10 of which clocked 99 mph or higher – for Skenes to showcase his dominance on baseball's grandest stage Tuesday night at Truist Park in Atlanta. He faced the top of the American League order and struck out Detroit Tigers duo Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene before forcing New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge into a ground out to end his outing.

Skenes hit triple digits on the radar gun four times during his start, throwing his hardest pitch of the night to Judge – a first pitch, 100.4 mph fastball.

In doing so, he became the first All-Star starting pitcher in the Statcast era (since 2015) to throw four pitches at 100 mph or more.

Paul Skenes letting loose during All-Star Game should send message to Pirates

Skenes ranks amongst the best pitchers in baseball in 2025, including first in ERA (2.01), tied for third in opposing batting average (.189), tied for fifth in WHIP (0.93) and innings pitched (121.0) and eighth in strikeouts (131). He is just the second Pirates pitcher to start two All-Star Games, joining Bob Friend, who did so in 1956 and 1960.

And yet, despite being one of the greatest pitchers of his generation, Skenes still has a losing record (4-8) in 2025. When comparing his win/loss record to his individual stats – not to mention his performance in the All-Star Game – it becomes painfully clear that the Pirates have absolutely no idea what they have in Skenes.

If the Pirates surrounded their once-in-a-generation pitcher with high-level talent on their roster, perhaps that pitcher would have a winning record to show for it. Perhaps he also wouldn't be Pittsburgh's lone representative at the All-Star Game.

More Pirates content from Rum Bunter