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Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who plays for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, said he would throw to honor America’s military.
Skenes, 23, spent two years at the U.S. Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU and told Team USA manager Mark DeRosa that was the reason he chose to pitch.
“That’s why we do this,” Skenes told The Athletic. “This is the greatest country in the world. This is what I believe. This is why I wanted to serve, why I went to the Air Force Academy. And these 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. September 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
“We do it to represent the men and women who fight for us, as well as many other things that make this country the greatest country in the world. It kind of puts things into perspective.”
Skenes said the fact that New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is participating in the tournament, alongside many of the stars representing Team USA, means she has become much bigger than them.
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) enters the bullpen before the game against the Oakland Athletics at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 21, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
“I won’t be wearing my OCPs (operational camouflage uniforms) anymore, or my blues or anything like that, but it’s going to be a very cool experience for me personally. For (team captain) Aaron Judge, who answers the call, all the guys on the position player side and then all the pitchers that we’ve had, it’s this thing that’s much bigger than any one of us,” Skenes said.
The U.S. baseball team will try to follow the example of the Team USA men’s and women’s hockey teams, who both won gold medals against Canada. Skenes’ presence on the team makes this 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 pitched.
Assuming the United States advances out of pool play, Skenes told The Athletic he plans to make two starts in the tournament.
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