Paul Skenes wasn’t supposed to be here — not according to the usual MLB script. Before throwing 100-mph fastballs, he was a dedicated Air Force cadet. Now, he’s one of the most promising young pitchers in the MLB.
Air Force Academy Molded Skenes Into a Baseball Ace
Skenes was born in Lake Forest, California, and grew up in a family that prioritized education and church over baseball. He once stated that he couldn’t pick up a baseball until his homework was finished. His desire to serve led him to the Air Force Academy, where he excelled academically and athletically as a two-way player.
In 2022, he transferred to LSU to pursue his baseball dreams. His parents fully supported the decision and encouraged him to work hard to achieve it.
ESPN insider Jeff Passan stated that a high-profile program like LSU may not have seemed like the best fit at first — but Skenes knew he needed to be there. The 6’6″, 260-pound right-hander, dubbed a “nerd” with electric skills, quickly rose to prominence.
Skenes, who played both pitcher and catcher at Air Force, enjoyed making jokes with teammates, frequently saying, “I worked harder than you today.”
It wasn’t until LSU that he truly broke into the national spotlight.
Despite his fame, he has remained grounded, sharing thoughtful perspectives on celebrity culture.
“When I look at famous people or celebrities, I notice that they often do whatever they can because they believe they can. Why is that? “We’re all people,” Skenes explained.
“What brought you there? What led you to fame, to being a movie star? You’re very good at what you do. “So, why change?”
He is the complete opposite of his girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, an LSU gymnast and viral content creator with over 5 million Instagram followers.
On July 9, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Skenes as the first overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, making him only the second player in franchise history to do so, after Ben McDonald in 1989.
“I was in shock when I heard,” Skenes told ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “A year, two years ago, I never imagined being the first overall pick. I’m not sure what I expected going into today, but it means a lot.
He officially joined the Pirates on July 18, 2023, with a $9.2 million signing bonus.
“Organizationally, this is a win for us,” said manager Derek Shelton. “We identified this guy for several reasons. We had a process in place to bring him to the major leagues, which many people may or may not have agreed with, but he arrived relatively quickly. I appreciate it because this is very important for the organization.”
On May 11, 2024, Skenes made his Major League Baseball debut against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.
“In my mind, I’ve felt ready since the beginning of the offseason,” Skenes told Alex Stumpf of MLB.com before his debut. “But obviously, the club has their definition of ‘ready’ in terms of building me up.”
He did not disappoint. Skenes threw 17 pitches over 100 mph and struck out seven batters in his debut, making him the first Pirates pitcher to do so since 1907.
He reflected on the game after it had ended.
“Just an awesome experience from the first pitch,” Skenes told MLB.com’s Thomas Harrigan in a postgame interview. “Many people advised me to take in everything from the moment I stepped outside… I’m very grateful for it. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
