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For Livvy Dunne, watching her boyfriend, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, isn’t easy.
Dunne, 23, said watching Skenes throw was harder than competing as a gymnast at LSU and she was going through a whirlwind of emotions during her debut.
“Obviously, I think I got blown up a few times watching him,” Dunne said during an appearance on MLB Network with Skenes. “I get nervous because I obviously want him to do his best. I love him. Usually he goes out, does his thing, does amazing things. But I feel all the emotions while he’s doing his thing.”
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Paul Skenes poses for a photo with Olivia Dunne during the red carpet photoshoot at Loews Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (Photos by Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty Images)
“It’s completely out of my control, which is really hard because while I was competing, I mean, I was the master of my own destiny. Now I just need to sit back, relax and trust him.”
Dunne went viral earlier this season when she was seen uttering “F—” after Skenes gave up a home run to Toronto Blue Jays star George Springer. The former LSU star attends many Skenes games and is an ardent supporter of her boyfriend and the Pirates.
Dunne got a first-hand look at Skenes’ business as 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 at the MLB All-Star Game on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia. (Chris Szagola/AP Photo)
“I think all offseason Paul wanted me to replace him while he was pitching. I procrastinated all offseason because it’s scary and everyone told me it would be very scary,” Dunne said.
“It was the last day of the offseason before he went to spring training and he said to me, ‘No, come on. You’re going to stay here.’ And I thought he was joking, and I stood up and I was frozen.”
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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes walks toward the dugout after handing 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 his tower, meaning he threw his girlfriend high and inward.
“She had asked me too. She wanted to see it, or she said she wanted to see it, and then the time comes, we have to see if you’re on this,” Skenes said.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner is 8-8 with a 3.57 ERA this season, and has been an anchor for a Pirates team that is in the heart of the National League Wild Card race at 50-47.
