Olivia Dunne is already in Pittsburgh to take in Paul Skenes MLB debut
Olivia Dunne is already in Pittsburgh for Paul Skenes’ MLB debut
Dunne will add glamour to Paul Skenes’ MLB debut on Saturday.
The highly anticipated debut of Pittsburgh Pirates’ top pitching prospect, Paul Skenes, is set to unfold this Saturday against the Cubs, and it’s generating buzz not just for his pitching prowess but also for the presence of his equally famous girlfriend, Olivia Dunne.
Livy Dunne ready to cheer on Skenes in Pittsburgh
Skenes, heralded as one of the most promising talents in baseball, will take the mound at PNC Park after an impressive stint in Triple-A, where he showcased his dominance by striking out 45 batters and allowing only three earned runs in 27 innings.
However, it’s not just Skenes’ meteoric rise that’s catching attention.
His girlfriend, Olivia Dunne, a former gymnast from LSU and a social media sensation, has been making waves of her own.
With over 13 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, Dunne’s influence extends far beyond the realm of sports.
She’s a marketing powerhouse, boasting sponsorships with renowned brands like Vuori, Grubhub, and American Eagle, and has even graced the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine.
Speculation arose earlier this week about Dunne’s presence at Skenes’ debut, and her recent social media posts confirm she’ll indeed be in attendance.
While comparisons to other celebrity sports partners, like Taylor Swift attending Travis Kelce’s games, have been drawn, the impact of Dunne’s presence remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, the prospect of her being in the stands adds an intriguing subplot to Skenes’ milestone moment.
Skenes called up to bolster Pirates pitching rotation
As Skenes prepares to showcase his blazing fastball, which has been clocked at over 102.1 mph, fans are eager to witness history in the making.
The 21-year-old phenom’s journey to the majors has been marked by record-breaking achievements, including signing for a staggering $9.2 million, the highest bonus ever for an amateur in baseball history.
The Pirates, despite their current standings, boast a formidable rotation led by young talents like Skenes and Jared Jones, making them contenders in the National League Central.
MLB analysts believed Skenes was major-league-ready when the Pirates drafted him in 2023, but the team decided to slowly build him up to avoid a potential mishap further out in the season due to a high amount of innings pitched.
With his limited pitch count in Triple-A, Pittsburgh hopes Skenes will join their rotation in top form for the remainder of the 2024 season.
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