Paul Skenes' All-Star interview shows he's perfect off-field fit for Pirates too
By Emma Lingan
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In a ballpark filled with nearly six dozen MLB All-Stars tonight at Globe Life Field in Texas, all eyes will be on Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes.
At this time last year, Skenes was the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, weeks after celebrating a College World Series title with LSU. Now, he's an MLB All-Star with a 6-0 record, a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings.
The 22-year-old phenom, with just 11 starts at the major league level, was announced last week as the National League starter for tonight's All-Star Game. He will have the fewest big league games of any player in the midsummer classic's 91-year history when he takes the mound, but he has arrived with the poise and perspective of a seasoned veteran.
"It's just baseball," Skenes said in an interview Monday on MLB Network. "It's the same game I've always been playing. The people are just different; that's the only thing that changes. You probably can't get away with as much, but that's why we work in the offseason and on a day-to-day basis to fine-tune everything. But yeah, it's just baseball."
"It's been surreal... I've really had the opportunity to think about what it's going to be like to be here and be with all these guys."
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 15, 2024
- @Pirates All-Star Paul Skenes on a whirlwind rookie season culminating tomorrow in the #AllStarGame pic.twitter.com/bc4kU8Z12B
For Pirates' Paul Skenes, an MLB All-Star start is 'just baseball'
Despite cracking the major leagues just over two months ago, Skenes is now widely seen as one of the faces of baseball. That's a lot of pressure falling squarely on the shoulders of a 22-year-old rookie; but for Skenes, a generational talent who is mature beyond his years, it seems no stage is too big.
"It's cool. I don't know that I can put any other words to it than it's cool, it's surreal – all those words. But yeah, like I said, it's just baseball, and I think it's a matter of going out there and executing. Whoever's on the other side, I'm going to go out there and play my game."
His humility and perspective are impressive – especially at such a young age – so much so that it begs the question: does Skenes even get nervous on the mound anymore?
"Oh, for sure," he said without hesitation. "But there always are; it's the Show. Seeing stadiums fill up, and the third deck, that kind of thing, there's always nerves, adrenaline, whatever you want to call it.... I think, if you don't feel anything before you start, then you should probably stop playing the game."
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