Pirates star Paul Skenes surprises Little League team, plays catch and signs autographs for players

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes is in it for the love of the game. Skenes showed off his love for baseball Monday, as he stopped and surprised a Little League team, spending over two hours playing and signing autographs with kids.

The moment was captured by Pittsburgh radio host Bob Mason — otherwise known as “Big Bob” — and Skenes’ girlfriend Livvy Dunne.

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Mason sent out two images of Skenes at the Little League field. Both feature the pitcher signing autographs for the players. Mason also posted a video, which shows Skenes playing catch with one player.

Dunne also posted a picture, confirming Skenes saw the lights on at the field, and decided to pull over and check things out.

Skenes stopped by Franklin Park, which is located in Ingomar, a suburb of Pittsburgh. His visit came a night before Skenes is set to pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.

Over his brief career, Skenes has already emerged as one of the best pitchers in the majors. He owns an elite 2.12 ERA over 68 career starts.

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If Tuesday’s videos are any indication, he also has an elite approval rating off the field.

Thanks to Skenes, the Pirates sit at 34-32 entering play Tuesday. While the team came into the year with loftier-than-usual expectations, the Pirates have mostly lived up to them thus far, and are firmly in the playoff hunt after 66 games.