"You'll be the starter" NL manager...Skins, he was a Triple-A pitcher just 68 days ago

Jul 14, 2024

'You'll be the starter' NL manager...Skins, he was a Triple-A pitcher just 68 days ago
Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skins is doing a broadcast interview after pitching seven innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on the 12th (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News
'You'll be the starter' NL manager...Skins, he was a Triple-A pitcher just 68 days ago
Tori Lovello Arizona Diamondbacks director. AFP Yonhap News


This is the expected result.

Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skins, who has played half of the rookie season in history, has been selected as the starting pitcher of the National League (NL) for the All-Star Game.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Tori Lovello, the NL head coach, told local media such as MLB.com on the 13th (Korea time) that Polskins is the NL starter in the All-Star Game "I personally informed him that you should be the NL starter in the All-Star Game "," the official announcement said.

Skins' selection for the All-Star Game produced a number of interesting records regarding age, career, and debut time.

First of all, Skins was recorded as the first player to play in the All-Star Game the following year after receiving the first overall pick in the first round of the draft. He is also the fifth rookie pitcher to start the All-Star Game, following Hideo Nomo (1995), Fernando Valenzuela (1981), Mark Feidrich (1976) and Dave Stenhouse (1962).

In addition, Skins has only played in 11 games since his debut, all he has done is his big league career. This is the minimum career tie for All-Star Game starters like Feidrich in the Major League.

Skins is also the fifth pitcher to start the All-Star Game in the history of the Pittsburgh club, following Bob Friend (1956 and 1960), Burnlaw (1960's second game), Dog Ellis (1971) and Royce (1975).

After learning about the All-Star Game selection, Skins told MLB.com "It took some time to accept it. As far as I know, I haven't heard about the selection of the All-Star Game like this before. During the interview, NL manager said, "It was completely unexpected to announce the starting pitcher for the All-Star Game."

'You'll be the starter' NL manager...Skins, he was a Triple-A pitcher just 68 days ago
Polskins will take the mound as NL starting pitcher for the All-Star Game. AFP Yonhap News
MLB.com said: "'Skins appeared on the Dan Patrick show and received a surprise call from NL head coach Tori Lovello. Lovello wanted Pittsburgh's top-notch pitcher to know that he became a starting pitcher in the NL for the 2024 All-Star Game, he said.

Skins said "It's great to be on the mound as a starter against All-Star. I'm so happy and honored to have such an opportunity in the rookie season. "There are a lot of really good pitchers in the NL, and some of them can start in the All-Star Game. In that sense, it's cool just to be a candidate, but starting pitcher is like a dream."

Skins is expected to throw about two innings in the All-Star Game. At least six batters can be faced. Batters representing the AL will take the batter's box one after another. Baltimore Orioles Gunner Henderson, New York Yankees Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, Cleveland Guardians Jose Ramirez, Texas Rangers Marcus Simien, Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Houston Astros will face Yordan Alvarez on the dream stage.

MLB.com said, `Just 68 days ago, he took the mound against Triple-A prospects under the Blue Jays. Next Tuesday (local time), he will be the first pitcher to take the mound against the AL's best hitters at the Midsummer Classic.

'You'll be the starter' NL manager...Skins, he was a Triple-A pitcher just 68 days ago
Polskins won six games, had a 1.90 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 11 games in the first half. AFP Yonhap News
In 11 games in the first half, Skins had five wins and no losses, a 1.90 ERA, 66 ⅓ innings, 89 strikeouts, 13 walks, a WHIP of 0.92 and a 0.202 hit rate. In particular, he started in an away game against the Milwaukee Brewers on the 12th, his last appearance in the first half, striking out 11 in seven innings and pitching a hitless and scoreless '7 innings of no-hitter'.

Skins struck out 11 in a game, the second career high tie since May 18 against the Chicago Cubs. At that time, in the game against the Cubs, Skins did not give up any hits, no hits, no hits, no hits, with 11 strikeouts in six innings. According to MLB.com , the only pitchers in AL/NL history to have more than six hitless innings and 11 strikeouts in a season are Skins and Nolan Ryan. Ryan directed Nochterman twice in 1973 when he was with the California Angels.

In addition, Skins had seven or more strikeouts in eight consecutive games, the longest in Pittsburgh's history in this category.





jhno@sportschosun.com