Paul Skenes of Pittsburgh Pirates Secures Another All-Star Honor
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has solidified his status as one of baseball’s elite talents, earning a spot on the 2025 Sporting News All-Star Team. This recognition highlights his outstanding performance throughout the season.
2025 MLB All-Star Selection
Paul Skenes was named the starting pitcher for the National League in the 2025 All-Star Game. His selection places him among notable players like Edwin Diaz from the New York Mets and Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers.
Notable All-Star Team Members
- Will Smith, Catcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Shohei Ohtani, Designated Hitter, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Manny Machado, Third Baseman, San Diego Padres
- Fernando Tatis Jr., Outfielder, San Diego Padres
- Pete Alonso, First Baseman, New York Mets
- Juan Soto, Outfielder, New York Mets
- Brice Turang, Second Baseman, Milwaukee Brewers
- Trea Turner, Shortstop, Philadelphia Phillies
- Corbin Carroll, Outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks
Impressive Season Statistics
Skenes concluded the season with a record of 10 wins and 10 losses in 32 starts but boasted an impressive 1.97 ERA across 187.2 innings. He struck out 216 batters while walking only 42, maintaining a .199 opposing batting average and a stellar 0.95 WHIP.
Ranking Among Top Pitchers
Throughout the league, Skenes ranked highly in several categories:
- Lowest ERA in MLB
- Tied for fourth-most strikeouts
- Fourth lowest WHIP
- Sixth lowest batting average against
- Tenth most innings pitched
- Fifth best strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB)
- Seventh best strikeouts per nine innings (K/9)
- Ninth best walks per nine innings (BB/9)
Historic Achievements
In addition to his All-Star selection, Skenes made MLB history this season. He became the first National League pitcher since Jacob DeGrom in 2018 to achieve a sub-2.00 ERA with over 200 strikeouts. Skenes is also the first pitcher in history to have more than 200 strikeouts and a sub-2.00 ERA without a winning record since the inception of ERA as a stat in 1913.
Breaking Pirates Records
Skenes’ 216 strikeouts set a franchise record for a right-handed pitcher in the live-ball era. He ranks seventh in franchise history for strikeouts in a season and is just one of three Pirates pitchers to lead the MLB in ERA.
Future Outlook
As he heads toward the potential Cy Young Award for the National League, Skenes seeks to follow in the footsteps of past Pirates legends like Doug Drabek and Vern Law. His groundbreaking season sets a promising trajectory for his future within the Pirates organization and MLB.
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