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For Livvy Dunne, seeing her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes, is not easy.
Dunne, 23, said watching Skene pitch is harder than competing as a gymnast at LSU and that she goes through a whirlwind of emotions during his starts.
“Obviously, I think I was put on blast a couple of times watching him,” Dunne said during an appearance on MLB Network with Skenes. “I get nervous because obviously I want him to do his best. I love him. He usually jumps out, does his thing, does it great. But I feel every emotion while he’s out there doing his thing.”
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Paul Skenes poses for a photo with Olivia Dunne during the red carpet photo shoot at Loews Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pa., Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
“It’s completely out of my control, which is really hard because while I was competing, I think I was in control of my own destiny. Now I just have to sit back, relax and trust him.”
Dunne went viral earlier this season when she was seen mouthing “F—” after Skenes gave up a home run to Toronto Blue Jays star George Springer. The former LSU star attends many of the games Skenes pitches and is an avid supporter of his girlfriend and the Pirates.
Dunne got a first-hand look at Skenes’ stuff when she stepped into the batter’s box before the Pirates ace left for spring training.
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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne walk the red carpet for the MLB All-Star Game on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia. (Chris Szagola/AP Photo)
“I think the whole offseason Paul wanted me to stand in while he was pitching. I’ve been putting off the whole offseason because it’s scary and everybody told me it was going to be very scary,” Dunne said.
“It was the last day of offseason before he went to spring training, and he said, “No, come on. You’re going to stand there.” And I thought he was joking, and I stood frozen.”
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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes walks to the dugout after fielding the ball to manager Don Kelly during the sixth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)
Skenes said he buzzed her rook, meaning he pitched high and in to his girlfriend.
“She had asked me too. She wanted to see it, or she said she wanted to see it, and then the time will come, we’ll see if you’re up to it,” Skenes said.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner has an 8-8 record and a 3.57 ERA this season, and has been an anchor for a Pirates team that is in the middle of the National League Wild Card race at 50-47.
