There are sports phenoms who take the world by storm, and then there’s Paul Skenes.
Not only is the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher one of the three top must-see players in MLB, but he was selected to start for the National League in the All-Star Game after only 11 big league games on the mound.
And why not?
After all, Skenes sports a sterling 6-0 record and an even more impressive 1.90 ERA after 11 starts.
How about 89 strikeouts for the flamethrower in only 66 1/3 innings at the major league level while issuing only 13 walks?
Now, Skenes is the recipient of yet another honor as he readies himself to take the hill for the 2024 Midsummer Classic.
According to ESPN BET, Skenes is the favorite to win MVP honors in the All-Star Game.
He certainly arrived in Arlington with a flourish as he was photographed stepping off the plane with LSU star gymnast Olivia Dunne.
It is fair to say they are the couple of the day at the MLB festivities.
Dunne greeted her 5.3 million social media followers with a photograph of herself and Skenes on the runway, captioned “All-Star Game bound!”
There have certainly been rookie sensations before, but few reached the rarified air that Skenes currently occupies as one of the top draws in the game.
The nation will watch with fascination as he takes the hill in the first inning to face the top of the stacked American League hitting lineup – including New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.
And if Skenes shuts down the AL in order or strikes out the side, his baseball legend will only grow larger.
