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Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes is perhaps the biggest, if not one of the biggest supporters of the United States military among active MLB players.
So, for him, representing Team USA at the World Baseball Classic meant a lot.
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Pitcher Paul Skenes #30 of Team USA throws during a practice session at Papago Park Sports Complex on March 2, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
“First and foremost, I care because I’m from America. I love America. I’ve seen the WBC in the past and there’s no bigger stage or greater honor than wearing the United States on your chest,” he said Monday on the MLB Network.
“And I think the other one, I went to the Air Force Academy for two years. I wanted to serve. I intended to serve and I ended up transferring to LSU. I won a national championship there, I did some cool stuff there. But there was a big part of me that was fully committed to serving in the military as a career after college. So that’s not serving, but it’s a pretty close second.”
Over the past two MLB seasons, Skenes has championed a cause bigger than wins, losses or Cy Young Awards. He partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) for a takedown campaign. For every strikeout Skenes threw this season, he pledged to donate $100 to the organization. The foundation has helped expand service efforts, providing the military, veteran and first responder communities with additional fundraising and awareness.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) watches from the dugout during the sixth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, September 25, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Skenes had 216 strikeouts last season and won the National League Cy Young Award for the first time.
He made it clear last week that he would participate in the World Baseball Classic to honor the men and women of the military.
“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.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park on February 25, 2026. (Jonathan Dyer/Imagn Images)
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“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.”
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