Paul Skenes Starting The MLB All-Star Game Is Good For Him, Even Better For Baseball

Major League Baseball got it right.

The MLB All-Star Game is the league's primary showcase for the best talent and biggest names the sport has to offer. There's a much larger national television audience, increased attention and spectacle surrounding the game. 

Currently, the most exciting pitching talent in baseball is Pittsburgh Pirates star rookie Paul Skenes, whose overwhelming fastball, devastating slider and unique "splinker" have been undeniably effective since his debut. It seems to line up perfectly, right? Get the biggest new name in the sport in front of as many eyeballs as possible.

And for once, in a rare moment of sanity, Major League Baseball seized the opportunity handed to it on a silver platter. On Friday, National League All-Star Game manager Torey Lovullo broke the news to Skenes live on the radio airwaves that he'd been named the NL starter.

READ: Paul Skenes Named Starting Pitcher In All-Star Game Live On Dan Patrick Show

It was an exciting announcement for Pirates fans, for Skenes, of course, and more importantly, for baseball as a sport.

MILWAUKEE - Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 11, 2024. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Paul Skenes' Selection Is The Right Move For MLB

Since reaching the big leagues in May, Skenes has been arguably the most effective pitcher in baseball. He proved that again on Thursday, going seven no-hit innings against the Milwaukee Brewers before exiting after 99 pitches.

READ: Paul Skenes Throws Seven No-Hit Innings, Pirates Immediately Blow It

His year-to-date stats read like something out of a video game. An ERA of just 1.90, 12 strikeouts per nine innings, a minuscule 5.1 percent walk rate, 48 hits allowed in 66.1 innings, and an unbelievable .135 batting average allowed with runners in scoring position.

But statistics tell only part of the Paul Skenes story. It's rare in the modern era for a baseball player to transcend the sport to become a nationally recognized name. Skenes has the opportunity to accomplish that unlikely feat, thanks to his high-profile relationship off the field and on-field dominance.

Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper…there's just a few big names that fans of other sports recognize. If Skenes is ever to take that leap, to become a more well-known, recognizable figure in the broader sports landscape, it's by giving him the highest-profile opportunities.

A World Series appearance would be ideal, but given the state of the team's ownership, that seems unlikely.

READ: The Pittsburgh Pirates Are In Playoff Contention, And Their Owner Doesn’t Seem To Care

The next best showcase, and the only one MLB actually controls, is the All-Star Game. Raising the profile of individual players raises the profile of the league as a whole. That's exactly what they did in naming him the NL starter. It's good for Skenes, but it's great for baseball.

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