Paul Skenes is doing very well these days. After a big end to his college career, the pitcher was drafted first overall by the Pirates.
He recently made his debut in the minors and it’s going well. It throws catches at 100 miles per hour, which isn’t bad at all.
The guy who’s kind of an internet hero because he’s reportedly in a relationship with Livvy Dunne (a young guy his age who’s getting the attention of guys his age) seems to have it all.
But did you know there could be more?
According to what was reported by journalist Jason Mackey, who covers the Pirates, the club offered to allow him to develop like Shohei Ohtani, either as a pitcher or as a hitter.
But the pitcher said no. He prefers to focus on throwing only.
It further demonstrates how special the Angels star is doing. After all, Skenes is more than a pitcher: he’s quite an athlete. The guy is able to hit.
But what he especially appreciated was the fact that the Pirates told him about it and that he was part of the conversation. In his eyes, that says a lot about the mentality in Pittsburgh.
In the past few years, Skenes has had the chance to hit at a high level. The Pirates have been looking to see if the test can continue, but he prefers to focus on throwing.
And since he’s been compared to Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg, that’s not a bad idea. No?
