The highly anticipated showdown between Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes and New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge during the 2024 MLB All-Star Game proved to be brief, lasting just one pitch. This matchup was eagerly awaited by baseball enthusiasts, pitting Skenes, recognized as one of the game’s premier young power pitchers, against Judge, a dominant force known for his formidable hitting prowess and strong candidacy for the American League MVP award.
Given the previous season’s encounter between Skenes and Shohei Ohtani, which generated significant interest, the prospect of a Skenes-Judge faceoff promised to captivate viewers. Fans got their wish in the bottom of the first inning, although the encounter did not live up to its considerable hype, culminating in Judge grounding into a fielder’s choice on the first pitch he faced from Skenes, thereby ending the inning.
Skenes’ performance in the first inning was solid, as he managed to keep the American League batters at bay without conceding a hit. His inning commenced with a pop-out from Cleveland’s Steven Kwan and continued with a ground-out by Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson. Although Skenes issued a walk to Juan Soto of the Yankees, which brought Judge to the plate, the sequence ensured that the much-anticipated matchup indeed took place.
Concerns had initially arisen that the Skenes-Judge duel might not materialize, given the strategic decision by American League manager Bruce Bochy to slot Judge into the fourth spot in the lineup. However, Soto’s walk effectively set the stage for the confrontation, even though the pitch that walked him could have conceivably been a strikeout pitch.
Paul Skenes finishes his #AllStarGame inning and Livvy Dunne is loving it! pic.twitter.com/JDF1neLtjD
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2024
Despite not registering any strikeouts during his one-inning stint, Skenes impressed observers with his ability to induce a swing-and-miss from Soto, a feat few pitchers can accomplish against such a formidable hitter. His performance overall was commendable, particularly considering that he faced top-tier American League talent in Kwan, Henderson, Soto, and Judge—each a leading contender for American League MVP honors.
The Skenes Splinker. pic.twitter.com/8WQvnWbIHw
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2024
while the highly anticipated Skenes-Judge matchup in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game was fleeting, lasting only one pitch, it nonetheless provided a glimpse into the collision of talent and expectations that such events often bring. Skenes’ ability to handle formidable hitters with poise and efficiency underscored his potential as a rising star in the baseball world, reaffirming the excitement surrounding his burgeoning career and future performances on the mound.
