Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is trying to take his burgeoning fame in stride. The 22-year-old became an instant sensation from the moment he made his big-league debut last May.

Paul Skenes is going to start for the Pittsburgh Pirates on opening day. Pretty easy call for manager Derek Shelton. Skenes is coming off a dominant performance in his first season in the majors. The 22-year-old right-hander went 11-3 with a 1.

To the surprise of no one, Paul Skenes has been named the Opening Day starter. And although this may seem ho-hum to most fans, it’s essential to understand the significance of what Skenes has done in a full calendar year.