ARLINGTON -- In the past year, Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes has captured a national championship at LSU and been selected first overall in the MLB Draft. He made history by becoming the first player to be named an All-Star in the season after being drafted.

Yet even a generational talent can’t help but wonder if he belongs on the All-Star stage.

It wasn’t until Skenes sat next to teammate Bryan Reynolds and MLB veterans Tyler Glasnow, Christian Yelich and Chris Sale for this week’s Home Run Derby and All-Star Game that he felt he truly belonged to this star-studded fraternity. On the mound to start the 94th Midsummer Classic -- the first time a rookie pitcher has done so since 1995 -- the 22-year-old Skenes tried his best not to black out.

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“I think the coolest part about it is they're so accepting and welcomed me with open arms into the clubhouse, and they're super supportive, watching my start,” Skenes said. “It was just really cool. Definitely feel like I'm one of them.”

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Skenes tossed a scoreless first inning in Tuesday night’s 5-3 National League loss to the American League in the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Globe Life Field. Skenes flashed his triple-digit velocity, maxing out at 100.1 mph as he tallied a game-high-tying four swings and misses against the best the AL had to offer.

“It was pretty electric, but for me, the thing that sticks out is just the command and the presence,” Trea Turner said. “I feel like a lot of guys wouldn't be able to do what he did tonight really, just keeping the nerves there and throwing strikes on all his pitches. I think that stuck out the most to me.”

Steven Kwan (MLB-best .352 average) popped out to shortstop and Gunnar Henderson (28 homers) sent a comebacker to Skenes, who easily threw over to first for the out.

Leading up to Tuesday night’s showcase, Juan Soto (MLB-high 79 walks) let everyone know that he would reach base so baseball fans could witness a highly anticipated matchup between Skenes and slugger Aaron Judge (MLB-high 34 homers).

Soto delivered on his promise, but Skenes proved to be a formidable adversary. All Soto could do was nod his head in appreciation following an uncomfortable swing on Skenes’ splinker to open the plate appearance. He would do so again later in the duel before taking a pitch inside for a two-out walk. Once the pitch got away, Soto pointed to Judge as if to say, "I told you."

"I was trying to take him deep, though," Soto said. "Definitely after two strikes I was trying to work the at-bat, because I want to make sure he faces him, too, so I got my job done."

The drama didn’t have much time to build as Judge decided to be aggressive, chopping the first pitch -- a 99.7 mph four-seamer -- to third baseman Alec Bohm, who fired to second for the inning-ending forceout.

“You've got to be with a guy like that to turn it up to 100-plus [mph], feel for all his pitches,” Judge said. “Like Juan said, he did his job. He said he'd get on for me, and he did. It was my job to try to barrel something up. It was fun. It was a fun first inning. Like you said, get a chance to hit behind him, watch him do his thing. [To] battle against one of the young studs in the NL right now was pretty cool.”

For his part, Skenes credited his experience pitching in big games, like in the College World Series with LSU, for his ability to handle the moment.

“In terms of a big moment,” he said, “there's not a whole lot else you can do to prepare for moments like this other than to pitch in moments like this. That was big.”

That would be it for Skenes, who retired the side on 16 pitches (11 strikes). Of those offerings, seven were his trademark splinker. NL manager Torey Lovullo tipped his hand Monday. When asked if Skenes might receive a second inning should he pitch a quick first, his reply was, “Most likely no.”

Regardless, Skenes has become must-see programming, so much so that AL starter Corbin Burnes, who pitched a scoreless top of the first, watched on the clubhouse TV. He departed shortly after to travel home and see his newborn twin daughters. Skenes’ cap will be donated to the National Baseball Hall of Fame along with All-Star Game MVP Jarren Duran’s jersey and Shota Imanaga’s cap.

"Kid’s got good stuff,” said Burnes, who won the 2021 NL Cy Young Award. “He’s had a great start to his career. Obviously, he was only drafted about a year ago, so it’s crazy to be on the ride he’s been on for the last year. But yeah, he’s got incredible stuff, great arm. He should have a pretty long career in this game."