Pirates Sending Two Superstars To The MLB All-Star Game
With the MLB All-Star game around the corner, the Pittsburgh Pirates are just barely under the .500 mark, something that many seem shocked by, but in reality, it should’ve been expected for this young team. Two of the Pirates’ brightest young stars got invited to the MLB All-Star Game in Texas this month.
A Second Trip To The Midsummer Classic
If you’re tuned into Pirates baseball, you’ve seen that Bryan Reynolds has been the offensive anchor for this team so far this season. He got rewarded with his second All-Star selection this season, fresh off his scorching hot month of June that saw him post the longest hit streak the MLB has seen this season at 25 games.
Up to July 7th, Reynolds has 101 hits, 16 home runs, and 54 RBIs while hitting a .284 batting average and holding a .836 OPS. So far in the 2024 MLB season, Reynolds sits in the National League in Offensive WAR of 3.0, fourth in hits, and tenth in home runs. So far, through five games in July, it has been much of the same for B-Rey, as he has nine hits, three home runs, eight RBIs, and just two strikeouts in 21 at-bats for a .429 batting average and .1.312 OPS.
Skenes Makes More History
The other Pirates’ All-Star representative made some history along the way. When Paul Skenes was named to the NL All-Star team, he became the first ever number-one overall pick to be selected for the All-Star game that next season. He also became the first Pirates rookie starting pitcher to go to the midsummer classic, and that barely scratches the surface of history Skenes has made this season in his short time.
Through his first ten MLB starts, he’s off to a 5-0 start, and the Pirates have never been trailing when he has exited a game. He’s posted a near-top of the NL 2.12 ERA, 78 strikeouts, and a 1.011 WHIP while allowing seven homers and walking 12 batters. In his most recent start against the Mets, PNC Park saw its second season sellout, the first being Opening Day. The eighth youngest player in the MLB has the people in Pittsburgh interested.
Looking at the numbers, one could argue that Skenes has a chance to be the National League starting pitcher, an insane feat for a rookie pitcher. Baseball fans getting to see him face the top of the American League batting lineup would be prime-time television—must-see TV on baseball’s biggest stage aside from the World Series.
Pirates All-Stars Seem Very Similar
While they’re the most electric baseball players in Pittsburgh right now, both Reynolds and Skenes handle all the success with a very similar tone. Very reserved in their post-game press conferences after big games. Both hoping to take Pittsburgh baseball from the midsummer classic back to the Fall Classic soon.
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