Paul Skenes’ accomplishments through 10 games

It’s Paul Skenes Day. Through just 10 career starts, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s Draft is already well-established as appointment viewing.

On Sunday, he became the first player to be an All-Star the year after being selected in the amateur Draft, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. He’s already etching his name in the recordbooks, and there’s so much more to look forward to.

Here’s a look at the historic accomplishments by Skenes thus far and what he can do the rest of the year. (All stats are since at least 1901 unless otherwise noted.)

Through 10 outings
With 78 strikeouts in his first 10 career appearances, Skenes ranks eighth all time. He trails Kerry Wood (94 in 1998), Herb Score (92 in ’55), Jose DeLeon (85 in ’83), Hideo Nomo (83 in ’95), Dwight Gooden (80 in ’84), Masahiro Tanaka (79 in 2014) and Stephen Strasburg (79 in 2010).

He’s been consistent. Skenes is the first pitcher with seven or more strikeouts in at least nine of his first 10 career outings.

But it isn’t just the strikeouts — it’s how he’s limited walks and runs, too. He’s walked just 12 batters, making him one of two pitchers with at least 70 strikeouts and fewer than 15 walks in their first 10 career appearances. The other was Tanaka in 2014 (79 K, 10 BB), and he’d already authored a storied professional career in Japan.

Skenes’ 14 runs allowed are the fewest of the 16 pitchers with at least 70 strikeouts in their first 10 career games.

Looking ahead
Ten pitchers have had at least 80 strikeouts through 11 career games, a list Skenes seems primed to join Thursday against the first-place Brewers. The fewest runs allowed of that group is 19, by Matt Harvey from 2012-13. The only walk total of 15 or fewer is Tanaka’s 12.

If Skenes were to have another seven K’s, he’d be the only pitcher to reach the mark in 10 of his first 11 times out. That would give him 85 strikeouts, which would rank ninth on the list.

Let’s look further down the line. Skenes is on pace to make 26 starts, with 202 strikeouts, 31 walks and 36 runs allowed.

Only three pitchers have struck out at least 200 batters in their first 26 career appearances: Wood (233), Nomo (223) and Gooden (214).

More simply, 18 rookies since 1900 have had a 200-strikeout season. The only ones in the Wild Card era (since 1995) are Kodai Senga (2023), Spencer Strider (’22), Yu Darvish (’12), Daisuke Matsuzaka (’07), Wood (1998) and Nomo (’95).

The most strikeouts by a pitcher with fewer than 35 walks in his first 26 outings is 187, by Noah Syndergaard from 2015-16. The most by a pitcher to allow fewer than 40 runs in his first 26 games is 138 strikeouts, by Strider from 2021-22.

Headed to Texas
After Thursday’s start, Skenes’ next assignment will be to enjoy his first All-Star Week. If he were tabbed to start the game, we’d be witnessing a rarity.

Just four rookie pitchers have started the All-Star Game, per Elias: Nomo (1995), Fernando Valenzuela (’81), Mark Fidrych (’76) and Dave Stenhouse (’62). But Skenes would be even more unique, as his 11 starts would tie Fidrych for fewest in a career entering an All-Star start.

Even if he doesn’t start, an appearance would be notable. Skenes will be 22 years and 48 days old on Tuesday. There have been just 14 All-Star appearances by pitchers younger than that. The only ones in the last 40 seasons are Michael Soroka in 2019 (21 years, 339 days) and José Fernández in ’13 (20 years, 350 days).

What’s next
We’ll continue to marvel as Skenes takes the mound. And while there’s plenty of season left, file this away: 1981 Valenzuela is the only rookie to win a Cy Young Award.