Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes is the next big thing in Major League Baseball.
For anyone who watched Skenes dominate on the mound for the national champion LSU Tigers last year, it was clear that Skenes would translate flawlessly to the professional level.
Sure enough, the Pirates ended up drafting Skenes with the first-overall pick in last summer’s MLB Draft. However, it wasn’t until this past weekend that the fireballer made his debut at the Major League level.
As many know, Skenes’ biggest supporter is his girlfriend, Livvy Dunne.
If that name sounds familiar it’s because Dunne is a bit of a celebrity in her own right…
The LSU gymnast, fresh off winning the national championship with the Tigers, expressed immense pride as Skenes made his highly anticipated MLB debut with the Pirates on Saturday afternoon.
“I had some nerves at first but I’ve kind of channeled that into excitement. I just have the most confidence in him ever,” Dunne said of the emotions surrounding Skenes’ debut in The Show.
Skenes pitched 4 innings, allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, walking 2 while striking out 7 in the Pirates whacky 10-9 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
The stat line may not seem overly impressive, but Skenes put on quite a show with just how hard he was pitching.
Incredibly, the 21-year-old phenom hit 100 MPH on 17 of his 84 pitches.
“I have so many amazing memories with him, but I know how hard he has worked for this moment. Seriously, there’s nothing that can top this, I’m just so proud,” Dunne said of Skenes debut.
Skenes had been excelling in the Pirates’ minor league system, boasting a remarkable 0.99 ERA and 45 strikeouts in seven starts with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians before his call-up to the majors.
“All I can say is that is the quickest I’ve ever packed in my life,” Dunne said of Skenes’ exciting call-up to the Majors.
“He had a few missed calls and he got called up. And he was like, ‘Let’s pack!’ and we hit the road.”
Dunne, a renowned LSU gymnast and social media influencer, wore Pirate gear proudly as she displayer her loyal support for Skenes’ big moment.
Skenes made it clear that he is more than grateful for Dunne’s support and credited her with helping him reach the level he has.
“It’s been great, she’s helped me in a lot of ways in terms of managing all the hype I guess, if you will, and how to manage everything that goes around being a pro athlete because she’s kinda lived it. So, it’s been great,” he said.
“I always say, it’s way harder to be the person in the stands watching because I’m not in control,” Dunne said of the anxiety she felt watching Skenes on the mound.
“I can’t control – I don’t know how to throw a 100 mile (per hour) fastball, but it’s hard to have no control. Especially with gymnastics when you’re just watching. But I know he’s got this, and I just have a lot of confidence in him,” she added.
Besides being a top-level gymnast, Dunne is a model and influencer who has garnered a lot of attention over the past few years.
She has a final year of eligibility remaining should she decide to remain at LSU.
What are your thoughts on Skenes? … Does he remind you a little of Roger Clemens?
How about his Major League debut on Saturday? … Do you think his level of power pitching is sustainable? Or will it end up leading to arm problems? (Hopefully not!)
Looking ahead, do you think it’s only a matter of time before a big market club snatches him up?
At the end of the day, will Skenes live up to the sky-high expectations that have been set for him???