Paul Skenes reveals which AL All-Stars he's looking forward to facing

On July 16, 22-year-old Paul Skenes will take the hill for the National League in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, where matchups he'd once dreamed about will come to life.

Speaking with Kevin Negandhi of ESPN on Friday, Skenes revealed which American League stars he's looking forward to facing most, with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge headlining the list.

"Facing him with the first pitch I throw in the All-Star Game, that would be really cool," Skenes said.

But, no matter who leads off for the AL, Skenes seemed excited, if not a little overwhelmed, by the possibilities.

"I'm assuming it's going to be him, [Juan] Soto, [Gunnar] Henderson, some order of those three at the beginning of the lineup, so it'll be really cool," Skenes said.

As highly touted a pitching prospect as it gets, Skenes has lived up to the lofty expectations placed upon his arrival to the big leagues. However, it's hard to imagine that most thought he'd thrive to the point of starting the All-Star Game after just 11 starts.

Early on, it's undoubtedly been a whirlwind ride for Skenes, who, along with pitching lights out, has handled the pressures and extra attention with grace.

He even seems lost in the moment, responding, "I don't know yet" when asked to share his thoughts about throwing the first pitch of this year's mid-summer classic. But, he was able to convey what earning the honor to start the All-Star Game means.

"It's surreal, humbling, all those words you could use," Skenes said. "At the beginning of the year, I never could have expected to be in this position, it's a huge blessing."