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Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who is playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, said he is running to honor American servicemen and women.
Skenes, 23, spent two years at the US Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU and told Team USA manager Mark DeRosa that’s why he chose to pitch.
“That’s what we do it for,” Skenes told The Athletic. “This is the greatest country in the world. That’s what I believe. That’s why I wanted to serve, why I went to the Air Force Academy. And those people don’t get the recognition they deserve.
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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) stands for the national anthem before the game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 15 September 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
“We do it to represent the men and women who fight for us, along with many other things that make this country the greatest country in the world. It kind of puts it into perspective.”
Skenes said for New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge to participate in the tournament along with many of the stars representing Team USA means it has become much bigger than them.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) walks out of the bullpen before the game against the Oakland Athletics at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 21 September 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
“I’m not going to put on my OCPs (Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms) again or my dress blues or anything like that, but it’s going to be a very cool experience for me personally. For (team captain) Aaron Judge to answer the call, all the guys on the position player side and then all the pitchers that we’ve got a lot bigger of us,” Skenes said.
The US baseball team will try to follow the lead of Team USA’s men’s and women’s hockey teams, who both took home a gold medal over Canada. Skenes’ presence on the team makes that possibility much more likely.
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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes reacts after striking out Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (not pictured) to end the third inning at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
Skenes, in his second major league season, won the National League Cy Young Award last season. In 32 games, Skenes had a 1.97 ERA and recorded 216 strikeouts in 187.2 innings.
Assuming the U.S. advances from pool play, Skenes told The Athletic he plans to make two starts in the tournament.
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