PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Paul Skenes has been named to the National League All-Star team for this season’s All-Star Game at Truist Park, which will take place on Tuesday, July 15. The announcement was made Sunday by Major League Baseball.

Skenes joins Bob Veale in 1965 and 1966 and Rip Sewell in 1943, 1944 and 1946 as the only Pirates starting pitchers to be selected to the All-Star Game in at least two straight seasons (there was no All-Star Game in 1945).

The 23-year-old Skenes entered today with the fifth-lowest single-season ERA (2.03) by a Pirate prior to the All-Star break, behind Vernon Law (1.70 in 1965), Goose Gossage (1.75 in 1977), Bob Veale (1.90 in 1968) and Bob Friend (1.98 in 1963). Skenes’ .182 batting average against entering today is also the lowest in Pirates history prior to the break among those with at least 100.0 innings pitched. Skenes came into today ranked first in the National League in ERA (2.03) and batting average against (.182), as well as second in WHIP (0.92) and tied for sixth in strikeouts (115).

Skenes is the first Pirate to be selected to the All-Star Game in each of his first two Major League seasons. Last season, he became the first Pirates rookie pitcher to ever be named to an All-Star Game.

Skenes also became one of just four Pirates rookies ever to be named an All-Star, along with Frankie Zak (1944), Jason Kendall (1996) and Tony Womack (1997).

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been selected for his 11th All-Star Game, joining the roster as a Legend Pick by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. At 37, Kershaw is the oldest National League All-Star for the July 15 game at Atlanta’s Truist Park while 22-year-old James Wood is the youngest overall.

There are 19 first-time All-Stars and five age 23 or younger, with Wood joined by Skenes, Elly De La Cruz and elected starters Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jacob Wilson.