ARLINGTON, Texas -- "I don't think he needs any advice on how to handle it. He's never seemed in over his head. Just comfortable -- in a good way."
That's what Bryan Reynolds told me when I asked him if he was giving Paul Skenes advice about how to handle the glitz and glamour of being at the MLB All-Star Game.
That's a lot of confidence from Skenes' teammate because this 22-year-old's 100-plus fastball can't keep up with how hard he's been thrown into the spotlight here at Globe Life Field. In fact, I managed to somehow get a snapshot of him being interviewed by just one person, a rare sight from today:
CHRIS HALICKE / DKPS
Skenes' day started off with a press conference that also included National League manager Torey Lovullo and American League manager Bruce Bochy, in which Lovullo reminded everyone why Skenes will be the one who toes the rubber first for the N.L. All-Stars.
"For me, it was consistently a no-brainer," Lovullo said. "Paul's everything that's right about this game. ... What he's had to go through over the past year has been amazing. He does it with humility, and he does it very, very well. To me, it became more and more clear as the day neared, and I couldn't be more honored to be sitting next to him right now."
Lovullo's glowing endorsement of Skenes as his starting pitcher for Tuesday night's Midsummer Classic was one of the last times he even had to speak, and Bochy barely got in two words edgewise. Nearly every question from reporters was directed at Skenes or at Lovullo about Skenes, so much so that Bochy -- arguably one of the best managers in the history of the game -- could have put his head down for a little nap.
One word that came up during that press conference, and again with a couple of All-Stars later on, was "generational." That's not a word to be tossed around lightly. Even Skenes was hesitant to wear it.
"It's an honor, but I'm 11 starts in," Skenes said. "Here we are now, but hopefully there's a lot more time that I can play this game."
Yeah, but we know why Skenes is this big of a deal. His 1.90 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings are one thing. The numbers are stupid, and I mean that with the highest honor. But, this guy has already become the first in league history to accomplish multiple feats, which includes being the first player in Major League history to be selected first overall and make the All-Star Game the following season.
"It's been awesome. This last year has been insane. Probably one of the best years for a baseball player ever," Tyler Glasnow told me. "I've gotten to talk with him. He's a really mature guy. Great work ethic, a great feel for mechanics and what he's doing physically at such a young age. The sky's the limit."
People in Pittsburgh already know how special Skenes is. But, in case you had any doubt, this has already escalated to the forefront of the entire sport. I canvassed as many A.L. and N.L. All-Stars as possible within the allotted timeframe the media was given, and every remark about Skenes was as glowing as the last.
"It's special stuff, man. Electric stuff," Aaron Judge said. "You can talk about the velocity on his pitches, but the guy's a pitcher. He can work all of his pitches. He can throw them to any part of the zone in any count. He's a complete pitcher."
"He's a generational talent for a reason," A.L. leadoff hitter Steven Kwan said. "Not only the talent, to be able to go and pitch with stuff, but the mentality, the fortitude to be able to do that. The guy has all the pressure on him. People probably want to see him fail because of that, but he continues to excel and continues to succeed."
"It’s been fun to watch," Reds pitcher Hunter Greene said, not even reluctantly, about a division rival. "I chatted with him earlier today and congratulated him after his amazing start to his career so far. I’m happy for him. It’s been fun to watch."
"Last year when the College World Series was going on, we watched all of his games when he was going," said Tarik Skubal, another one of the game's brightest young pitchers. "Incredible talent. The stuff that he throws is real. I’ve watched it firsthand. I’m excited to watch him progress in this game."
Even some of the game's best hitters are only looking at the hype around Skenes as a challenge.
"I'm looking forward to it. It'll be a good test," said Orioles slugger Gunnar Henderson, who's batting second for the A.L. "Everything's pretty electric, pretty firm. Just gotta get ready for some firm stuff."
"It's going to be fun. It's going to be a fun matchup," Juan Soto said. "They’ve been talking about how electric his fastball is. I can’t wait to have the chance to see it."
Today only solidifies what we already knew about Skenes. Everyone here believes it, too. He's a game-changer. And it even has those who know Pittsburgh a little bit better than most hoping for the best -- for Skenes, the Pirates and the city.
"It's great. I hope they can build around him, spend some money and get a good team together around him," Glasnow said. "It's exciting for them. That city loves baseball so much. I want them to have a good team."
The jury's still out on the team. But, they do have a guy that's the talk of an event that also includes Shohei Ohtani. In today's game, it truly doesn't get any better.
