Olivia Dunne’s boyfriend, Paul Skenes, was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ big leagues after dominating at Triple-A Indianapolis. Despite a rough start in his first game in the majors, Skenes has been impressing the Pirates with his performance throughout the season. The pitcher has a 0.99 ERA over his first seven starts, striking out 45 batters and allowing just three earned runs. Skenes, the Pirates’ top prospect and the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball, was given a record $9.2 million signing bonus when he signed his first contract after being selected as the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft.
Dunne shared the exciting news on social media, teasing in recent days that Skenes would be called up to the major leagues. She posted a video on TikTok documenting their reaction to the news that he would be pitching in the MLB. The couple’s relationship has been public since late last year, with Dunne showing her support for Skenes as he made his way through the minor leagues. Despite his rocky start in the majors, the Pirates are confident in Skenes’ talent and potential to excel at the highest level of the sport.
Pirates GM Ben Cherington praised Skenes’ performance in Triple-A, stating that he has been checking all the boxes and responding well to the challenges he has faced. Although he gave up his first home run of the year in his first major league start, Skenes showed promise by striking out four batters and demonstrating his strong pitching abilities. With an impressive record during LSU’s College World Series run in 2023, Skenes was a highly anticipated draft pick for the Pirates, who invested heavily in his talent by offering a substantial signing bonus.
Skenes will have the opportunity to showcase his skills on May 11 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, where fans and baseball enthusiasts will be eager to see how he performs on the big stage. Despite the pressure of high expectations as a top prospect in both the Pirates organization and all of baseball, Skenes has shown resilience and determination in his journey to the major leagues. His impressive numbers in the minors and strong pitching abilities have earned him recognition as a rising star in the sport, with his debut in the majors being a significant milestone in his career.
As Skenes embarks on this new chapter in his baseball career, Dunne continues to support and celebrate his accomplishments, sharing their joy and excitement with fans on social media. The couple’s public relationship adds a personal touch to Skenes’ journey to the majors, giving fans a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes moments of his rise to professional baseball. With his talent and determination, Skenes is poised to make a significant impact in the MLB and fulfill his potential as a top prospect in the league.
