Pirates’ Skenes Becomes All-Star Just 8 Weeks After Debut, 7 Phillies Selected for July 16 Game
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes was selected for the All-Star Game on Sunday, just eight weeks after his debut. The Philadelphia Phillies, leading the major leagues, had the most selections with seven players chosen.
Skenes, who turned 22 in May, was the Pirates’ top pick in last year’s amateur draft. He made his debut on May 11 and has a 5-0 record with a 2.12 ERA in 10 starts, recording 78 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. He has thrown 74 pitches of 100 mph or more. Skenes’ last start before the All-Star break is expected midweek, making him a candidate to start for the National League.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga and San Diego outfielder Jackson Merrill are the only rookie All-Stars for the July 16 game in Arlington, Texas.
The Philadelphia Phillies’ All-Star selections include pitchers Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez, Jeff Hoffman, and Matt Strahm, and position players Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Alec Bohm. Harper’s participation depends on his recovery from a hamstring strain, and Wheeler will not be available for the All-Star Game as he is scheduled to pitch for the Phillies next weekend.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have six All-Stars, including pitcher Tyler Glasnow, catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Teoscar Hernández, injured shortstop Mookie Betts, and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.
Cleveland has the most AL All-Stars with five players: first baseman Josh Naylor, closer Emmanuel Clase, designated hitter David Fry, third baseman José Ramírez, and outfielder Steven Kwan.
Atlanta pitcher Chris Sale earned his eighth All-Star selection, his first since 2018. Texas closer Kirby Yates, 37, is the oldest All-Star and will be joined by second baseman Marcus Semien.
Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez was picked for the ninth time, matching Houston second baseman Jose Altuve for the most selections among this year’s All-Stars. Merrill, at 21, is the youngest All-Star and among 32 first-time picks.
Skenes is expected to have one more start for Pittsburgh before the break, putting him on track to have the fewest games played by an All-Star, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
San Diego outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. will miss the game due to a stress reaction in his thigh bone. Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz replaced Betts, who has been out since June 16 due to a broken hand. Skenes and San Francisco outfielder Heliot Ramos were picked by MLB to replace Wheeler and Tatis.
Starting pitchers Corbin Burnes of Baltimore, Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox, Tanner Houck of Boston, Seth Lugo of Kansas City, and Tarik Skubal of Detroit were selected for the AL staff by players, managers, and coaches. The reserves include Fry, Naylor, Perez, Semien, Bobby Witt Jr. of Kansas City, Rafael Devers of Boston, Jarren Duran of Boston, Riley Greene of Detroit, and Kyle Tucker of Houston.
MLB’s AL picks included Tyler Anderson of the Los Angeles Angels, Logan Gilbert of Seattle, Carlos Correa of Minnesota, Isaac Paredes of Tampa Bay, Clay Holmes of the New York Yankees, and Cole Ragans of Kansas City.
The NL staff includes Glasnow, Sale, Ranger Suárez, Wheeler, and Reynaldo López of Atlanta, along with Hoffman, Strahm, and Robert Suarez of San Diego. NL reserves are Betts, Freeman, Hernández, Merrill, Smith, Luis Arraez of San Diego, Ryan McMahon of Colorado, Bryan Reynolds of Pittsburgh, and Marcell Ozuna of Atlanta.
MLB’s NL selections included Ryan Helsley of St. Louis, Imanaga, Tanner Scott of Miami, Logan Webb of San Francisco, shortstop CJ Abrams of Washington, and Pete Alonso of the New York Mets.
Notable omissions include Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle, Jordan Westburg, Anthony Santander, Philadelphia’s J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber, and San Diego’s Manny Machado.