Paul Skenes doesn’t take days off - not even on vacation.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace has quickly become one of the most dominant arms in baseball, and it’s no accident. Skenes recently opened up about what downtime looks like for him, and let’s just say, it still includes a whole lot of work. Even when he’s traveling with his girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, mornings are strictly off-limits - not for sightseeing or sleeping in, but for training.
“I think Liv probably gets tired of traveling with me,” Skenes told Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We might spend four days somewhere, but it’s really two because half of each day - the morning - is for me to train.
We don’t get mornings. She can do whatever she needs to do in the morning.
But we do not get mornings.”
That’s the kind of commitment that separates good from great - and Skenes is already operating on another level. The 6-foot-6 right-hander just capped off his second big-league season by winning the NL Cy Young Award, and he’s not slowing down. In fact, he’s doubling down.
The Pirates have to be thrilled. They’ve got a bona fide ace who’s not just talented, but relentlessly focused.
Skenes isn’t coasting on natural ability - he’s grinding, even in the offseason, even on vacation. That’s the kind of mindset that builds legacies.
And he’s not alone at the top. Right now, the conversation around the best pitcher in baseball includes two names: Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.
The Tigers’ lefty has been electric, but Skenes has matched him pitch for pitch. The baseball world is about to get a front-row seat to that dominance when both arms suit up for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this March.
If you’re into elite pitching, mark your calendar - that duo could be something special.
After the WBC, it’s back to business in Pittsburgh, where the Pirates are trying to build a contender around their young superstar. It’s a critical time for the franchise, and having Skenes anchoring the rotation gives them a legitimate shot to make some noise.
And through it all, Dunne’s been there - a constant presence in the stands and behind the scenes. She knows better than anyone how much time and effort Skenes pours into his craft.
While fans see the 100-mph fastballs and wipeout sliders, she sees the early mornings, the workouts, the film sessions. It’s a full-time job, and then some.
Skenes is setting the tone - not just for the Pirates, but for what it means to be great in this era of baseball. He’s not just chasing wins.
He’s chasing excellence. And he’s doing it one early morning at a time.