Paul Skenes faces Shohei Ohtani TODAY: Pirates’ pitching sensation faces his fiercest MLB test yet as he takes on $700m Dodgers superstar… but will Olivia Dunne be in the crowd?
Paul Skenes was in the stands in California in April 2018, when Shohei Ohtani made his first home start in America.
Six years later, the two come face-to-face in the first meeting between baseball’s biggest star and the most exciting player in the MLB in years – perhaps since Ohtani landed on these shores.
Skenes will take the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday for the second in a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The pitcher was selected first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 draft. His MLB debut came last month. Now comes his biggest test yet.
In 2018, Skenes was part of the El Toro high school team that traveled from Lake Forest, California, to Angel Stadium.
Paul Skenes will start for the Pirates against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday
This will see MLB’s most exciting talent in years take on the sport’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani
They got free tickets to see the Angels and a free lesson from Ohtani, who shone in just his second Major League start.
“I obviously didn’t know exactly what the baseball world had to offer at the time, but it was cool to see him compete,” Skenes said Tuesday.
Since then, Ohtani has won two AL MVP awards and joined the Dodgers in a $700 million deal – the richest contract in team sports history.
Skenes has since become the best pitcher of his time.
“I grew up watching him,” the 22-year-old said of Ohtani. “As a two-way guy, that’s what I tried to be before I got drafted. He was an inspiration in many ways.”
Ohtani is not pitching this season after a second Tommy John surgery on his elbow, while Skenes’ days as a two-way threat ended in college.
He was a catcher and hitter in high school and during his first two years of college. But he decided to focus on his pitching starting his freshman year at Louisiana State.
Skenes was in the stands to watch Ohtani make his U.S. home debut in April 2018
The thrower is in a relationship with gymnast Olivia Dunne, who has been in the stands to watch him play
In four Major League starts, he struckout 30 batters with an ERA of 2.45 over 22 innings. Meanwhile, his relationship with Olivia Dunne means Skenes is rarely out of the headlines.
The gymnast has often been in the stands watching her boyfriend during his impressive start with the Pirates.
On Wednesday, Skenes hopes to dent Ohtani’s bid for a third MVP award. Despite not pitching, the Japanese star hit .322 with 14 home runs in his first season with the Dodgers.
He is flanked in LA’s top order by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. “It’s the big leagues,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “One of the best teams in baseball… all you have to do is execute pitches. It is very good for our young players to see a team of this caliber.’
Skenes added, “He’s pretty good…I just have to execute him.”
On Wednesday night, Skenes hopes to dent Ohtani’s bid for a third MVP award