Joshua Palacios has stepped into the batter¡¯s box twice against Paul Skenes. It was after Spring Training, when Skenes was doing his extended build up to his first full professional season and Palacios was getting reps after being hurt or sick for most of camp.

Palacios knew this righty was good and the top pitching prospect in baseball, but Skenes was also a greenhorn with less than seven professional innings under his belt, and he was a big Leaguer. He could handle himself.

Reflecting on it now, Palacios was just happy that he got the count to 3-2 in both of his at-bats before Skenes struck him out. As he watched Skenes work in Triple-A, Palacios saw why the big right-hander was considered a once-in-a-generation prospect.

¡°He was absolutely dominating cats,¡± Palacios said. ¡°Nasty. Blowing it right by them. It was actually amazing to watch.¡±

So what is the key to success for a hitter facing Skenes?

¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Palacios answered, before cracking a wide grin. ¡°They haven¡¯t figured it out, clearly.¡±

A few of the American League's best players will attempt to solve Skenes, when he serves as the National League's starting pitcher in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night. (8 p.m. ET, FOX). The Pirates' hurler received the news 364 days after being selected with the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft.

"He's a beast," AL manager Bruce Bochy said. "He has incredible stuff."

Skenes is now set to become just the fifth rookie pitcher to ever start the All-Star Game, per the Elias Sports Bureau, joining Hideo Nomo (1995), Fernando Valenzuela ('81), Mark Fidrych ('76) and Dave Stenhouse ('62). Doing so after just Major League 11 starts would tie Fidrych for the fewest in a career entering an All-Star start (Fidrych also made two relief appearances).

"It was a no brainer," NL manager Torey Lovullo said. "Paul is everything that is right about this game."

Skenes will also become the first Pirates pitcher in nearly 50 years to start the All-Star Game and the fifth overall, joining Jerry Reuss (1975), Dock Ellis (1971), Vern Law (1960's second All-Star Game) and Bob Friend (1960's first All-Star Game and 1956).

"I'm super grateful to get to start," Skenes said. "I'm super excited."

Skenes said he'd like to hit 100 mph with at least a couple pitches on Tuesday and he'd like to face Aaron Judge, who is batting cleanup for the AL. But he's scheduled to throw just one inning. So, he'll have to surrender at least one baserunner to oppose Judge.

• The case for Paul Skenes to start All-Star Game

Perhaps some saw this as a real possibility when he made his debut two months ago, but Skenes wasn¡¯t one. That¡¯s certainly not from a lack of confidence. He has that in droves. For example, in a start against the Rays in June, Rays leadoff hitter Yandy D¨ªaz hit a leadoff home run off of the foul pole at PNC Park. Skenes didn¡¯t think D¨ªaz quite got it off the bat, and said after the game, ¡°I kind of just laughed when I saw it hit the foul pole. I was like, ¡®Good for you.¡¯¡±

He then went to throw seven innings without another run allowed.

No, it wasn¡¯t a matter of confidence or talent. Just the number of starts.

¡°Obviously, starting the year in Triple-A, the odds of going to the Major League All-Star game are pretty slim, so that wasn't one of my goals necessarily or expectations for this season,¡± said Skenes. ¡°It's just a huge honor that I'm able to do it, after playing just a short span in the big leagues."

Well, what he doesn¡¯t have in quantity yet he certainly makes up for in quality.

Skenes¡¯ first 11 starts in the Majors was as dominant an onset to a career as we have seen in recent memory. His 89 strikeouts are the fifth-most through 11 games in Major League history, and the most since Kerry Wood had 94 in 1998. He¡¯s had multiple outings where he went at least six innings with double-digit strikeouts and no hits allowed on the road. He¡¯s pitched to a 1.90 ERA with a .202 batting average against and 0.92 WHIP. You have to go back to Hippo Vaughn of the 1908-1910 Yankees to find the most recent pitcher who threw as many innings as Skenes (66 1/3) through their first 11 starts and allowed fewer runs than he has (14).

¡°I don¡¯t think anybody thinks that when you come to the big leagues, it¡¯s going to be like this,¡± Derek Shelton said. ¡° ¡­ I think we¡¯re seeing a guy that¡¯s just really talented.¡±

It¡¯s one of the most rapid ascents in recent baseball memory. Just 18 months ago, Skenes was basically known only by those who saw him pitch at the Air Force Academy. He went from a relative unknown, to the Collegiate National Player of the Year, to the first overall Draft pick, to the top pitching prospect, to an All-Star. He was named an All-Star 364 days after being named as the first pick. That¡¯s almost ridiculous.

¡°It¡¯s not ridiculous to him,¡± pitching coach Oscar Marin said. ¡°That¡¯s the biggest difference about him.¡±

Veteran Yasmani Grandal has been Skenes¡¯ primary catcher for most of his professional career, including time with Triple-A Indianapolis when Grandal was on a rehab assignment. He has glowed about the 22-year-old phenom¡¯s stuff and makeup, but knows he will eventually hit a bump in the road. It may be 2024, maybe not, but all big leaguers do.

But why think about that right now?

¡°A lot of times when you look ahead too much, you lose sense of what exactly is going on,¡± Grandal said. ¡°For me with him, it¡¯s about just being in the moment.¡±