After Pittsburgh Pirates rookie ace Paul Skenes was pulled out of Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, manager Derek Shelton explained that it was due to tiredness. The 22-year-old righty put in another exemplary performance, completing seven innings without giving up a single hit before he was taken off.

While some speculated that the Skenes was relieved due to the pitch count, Shelton spoke to the media after the game and explained that the pitcher was just tired:

“He was tired. It didn’t have anything to do with pitch count, everybody makes it about pitch count. It was about where he was at. It was about trusting your eyes, trusting him.
When I went and talked to him after that, he was tired. They did a good job of wearing him down. I mean, he gave us everything he had.”
Paul Skenes entered the 2023 MLB Draft as one of the top prospects and was the first overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. After an impressive season for them in the minors last year, the starting pitcher was promoted to the majors in May this year. Since then, he has been one of the most impressive rookies in the MLB and has also earned an All-Star spot in his rookie season.

Skenes made his eleventh start of the season against the Brewers on Thursday and put in a typically impressive shift, pitching seven scoreless and hitless innings to shut them out. He is 6-0 in the majors, with a 1.90 ERA over his first 11 appearances.

Pirates ace Paul Skenes makes history after shutout performance vs Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting pitcher Paul Skenes pulled off an amazing record after throwing seven scoreless innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. The young rookie became the first pitcher since 1901 to record over seven strikeouts in 10 of his first 11 career appearances in the MLB.

Skenes becomes the first pitcher to record the feat in 123 years, taking his impressive rookie season to new heights. Over his first 11 appearances in the majors, he has recorded a 1.90 ERA, with 89 strikeouts. His 89 strikeouts over the first 11 appearances is the fifth-highest in the MLB since 1901.