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Pirates Bryan Reynolds and Paul Skenes named to All-Star team

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New York Mets v Pittsburgh Pirates
No doubt about it! Bryan Reynolds and Paul Skenes are officially All-Stars. | Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images

Pittsburgh will be sending a pair of Buccos to the All-Star Game in Arlington!

The full rosters for the MLB’s All-Star Game was announced Sunday afternoon, just days after the starters were announced. Getting the nod to join the National League squad from the Pirates in relief is outfielder Bryan Reynolds and rookie pitcher Paul Skenes.

This will be the second All-Star appearance for Reynolds, who after having a near perfect June was in competition for the player of the month. Though not awarded that honor, Reynolds has been on a tear at the plate and coming into Sunday was ranked second in home runs, second in OPS, and third in batting average amongst NL outfielders. The 25-game hitting streak certainly helped to influence those numbers, especially after a hit or miss start to the season. In full stride now, Reynolds is looking to continue checking boxes for the season

“I think it was one of my goals, an unsaid, unwritten goal,” Reynolds said of his All-Star selection. “Just because if you do that, you’re probably having a good year. You’re probably helping the team.”

For the rookie Skenes, this is unprecedented territory, especially after starting the season with Triple-A Indianapolis. He will be the first Pirates rookie ever named to the All-Star game, and the first to be named since Tony Womack was in 1997. Skenes has amassed a 5-0 record with a 2.12 ERA and 78 strikeouts, as he continues to show and prove why he’s been regarded as one of the best pitching prospects ever. Just one year removed from being drafted out of LSU, it seems that this is only the beginning for the young gun on the mound.

“I think the thing we’re seeing with him is No. 1 he has really elite stuff,” Pirates Manager Derek Shelton said. “I think it shows how good his stuff is. And I think it shows why we took him last year because we thought this was a guy that could accelerate himself to the big leagues very quickly and be very successful.”

The All-Star Game is set for July at Globe Field in Arlington Texas.