Pirates ace Paul Skenes named All-Star starting pitcher for 2nd straight year

For the second consecutive year, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes has been named the starting pitcher for the National League in the All-Star Game.

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound right-hander received official word Saturday in a phone call from Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who asked for “one inning of domination.”

Skenes became the obvious choice when Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler withdrew from the Midsummer Classic to focus on the remainder of the season.

“I know it’s out there already, but for the person who officially writes the lineup for the All-Star Game, I wanted to name you the 2025 National League starting pitcher,” Roberts told Skenes by speakerphone from manager Don Kelly’s office in a video posted by the Pirates on social media. “For me, from the other side, watching you compete and perform and become one of the faces of Major League Baseball, I just sit back in admiration. For me to write your name in the lineup is a huge honor, and I’m excited for you and for the fans.”

The 23-year-old Skenes is 4-8 with a 2.01 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 131 strikeouts in 121 innings over 20 starts this season.

Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Skenes will become the first pitcher and one of five MLB players ever to start in the All-Star Game in each of his first two big-league seasons, along with Joe DiMaggio (seven, 1936-42), Ichiro Suzuki (four, 2001-04), Rod Carew (three, 1967-69) and Frank Robinson (two, 1956-57).

Skenes called it a “huge honor,” adding that he’s looking forward to meeting Roberts and “hopefully, getting a win for the NL.”