Braxton Ashcraft is more than a deserving All-Star — he is one.
Ashcraft will replace Paul Skenes for the MLB All-Star Game next Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the league announced on Tuesday.
The move comes after Skenes said Saturday he'd pitch on Tuesday and Sunday of this week, thus making him ineligible to pitch in the Midsummer Classic.
Skenes lobbied for Ashcraft to take his place, and that's exactly what will happen, the 26-year-old right-hander making it for the first time.
"It’s cool to be recognized by your peers and the league, to represent the team in that situation," Ashcraft said. "It’s surreal. It’s something every kid dreams of. Just really cool to be able to live that."
Manager Don Kelly pulled Ashcraft into his office shortly before Tuesday's 12-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park. He had a simple question: Would Ashcraft be able to pitch in the MLB All-Stat Game?
"I was like, ‘Absolutely,' " said Ashcraft, who later joked that he was supposed to get pregnancy photos with his wife, Cassidy, over the break.
"I think those will have to wait a little bit," he said.
The honor is certainly deserved. Among National League qualifiers, Ashcraft ranks 11th in ERA at 3.24, while only seven NL pitchers have more quality starts (10).
If Ashcraft wins his next start, he can reach 10 wins before the All-Star break. That total would be tied for the second-most in the National League.
Ashcraft has 122 strikeouts on the season, which ranks fourth in the National League. But the best stat might be this: Only Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez have been worth more wins above replacement, per FanGraphs, than Ashcraft (2.9).
They're ... pretty good.
"I thought it was a no-brainer," Skenes said. "I was not surprised at all. He's an All-Star, straight up. It's good. Hopefully we have another team meeting at some point this week and somebody else gets to go. But it's great to see."
The Pirates drafted Ashcraft in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft, and he made his debut as a reliever last season.
Overall in 2025, Ashcraft pitched to a 2.71 in 26 games (eight starts), walking 24 and striking out 71 in 69 2/3 innings.
"Very cool," Ryan O'Hearn added. "Incredibly deserving. He’s been a horse for us. Every time he takes the ball, it gives us a great chance to win. First All-Star Game for him, and I’m sure there’ll be many more for him the way he throws the ball. Pumped for him.”
Ashcraft’s calling card this season has been working fast and throwing a lot of strikes. In those 18 starts, Ashcraft has thrown 1,603 pitches, 1,109 for strikes — or 69.1%.
Nobody in Major League Baseball has thrown strikes more frequently this season than Ashcraft, who has a 1.10 WHIP and .234 batting average against.
Opponents chase 37.3% of the pitches Ashcraft throws, which ranks in the 97th percentile in MLB. Furthermore, per Baseball Savant, his curveball has been the second-best bender in baseball with a run value of 7. Opponents are hitting just .150 against the pitch and swinging and missing 40.3% of the time.
Ashcraft admitted that he has thought about the honor. However, he hasn't been consumed by it. When we talked to him postgame, it said it hadn't really sunk in ... and probably wouldn't until he saw Cassidy.
"When you look around our clubhouse, there are other guys who are deserving of it, so it’s hard to feel super elated by it," Ashcraft said. "But selfishly, it’s cool feeling."
Ashcraft’s story involves more than just his strong 2026 season. He battled injuries throughout his Minor League career, including Tommy John surgery in 2021, and he’s come out better for it.
Exceptionally mature, Ashcraft perfected his curveball and slider around the time of COVID and when he was rehabbing from major elbow surgery, putting it all together last season, especially once he debuted.
The Pirates have two other worthy candidates in Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds. They could theoretically still be added as replacements, but it’ll be Ashcraft taking Skenes’ spot.
Ashcraft said he didn't have one specific player he wanted to meet or one part of the experience in mind. Just all of it, getting to soak in that stage and hopefully learn a thing or two.
The Pirates were even more excited to see Ashcraft recognized.
"So cool for Braxton," Kelly said. "He’s totally earned it. Deserves it. Such a great moment for him and Pirate fans, the development of Braxton from being drafted and him coming up last year in different roles. He’s been through a bunch of injuries. For him to have this honor that he deserves is really special."
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.