Team USA is heading to the finals of the World Baseball Classic after a gritty win over a stacked Dominican Republic squad Sunday, and Paul Skenes couldn’t be happier leading the charge for his country in what he calls his “proudest” moment.
“The proudest I’ve ever been wearing a jersey is the USA jersey,” Skenes told Alex Rodriguez in a sit-down interview ahead of the win over the DR. “You’re playing for a whole lot more. It’s great to play for a city, great to play for Pittsburgh in the regular season, but playing for your country, it’s a different level.”
Skenes is arguably a generational baseball talent, and while he shines on the diamond, he’s never shied away from his love of country.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ace once thought he would be flying fighter jets in the United States Air Force. The Cy Young winner, an award for the best MLB pitcher, was fresh out of high school when he took an oath to put his life on the line for our country. Even after Skenes was the overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, the MLB Rookie of the Year, and already a Cy Young award winner, he says taking that military oath is still “one of the highlights” of his life.
“I got the chills reciting that pledge just from how proud I am of this country,” Skenes penned in a letter published by The Players’ Tribune ahead of the international baseball tournament. “I’m actually getting chills right now remembering back to that time. Because when you love something so much that you’re willing to lay down your life for it? It’s pretty meaningful stuff.”
He played the first two years of his college career at the Air Force Academy before transferring to LSU, where he won a National Championship. But during his time wearing both an Air Force serviceman uniform and baseball uniform, Skenes said he developed the skills that have made him into the pitcher and person he is today.
“I truly believe that regardless of what you’re doing, if you want to accomplish great things and be the best version of yourself, you’re going to have to work extremely hard — be disciplined, focused,” Skenes said. “I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t put in that time at the Academy, I probably would’ve spent a lot more time in the minors than I did. So I’m incredibly grateful.”
His military background is why playing on Team USA is such an honor.
“I was never deployed myself, but I know how much pride those individuals take in wearing that uniform with your name on the right side of your chest and the U.S. Air Force or Army lettering on the left side … because that’s what you put over your heart,” Skenes said, adding that the players putting on the red, white, and blue aren’t doing it for the fame or money, but to simply represent their country.
“Our team, we’re not cadets or anything like that. (These hairstyles would never fly). But everyone on this team … we all understand that when you put on those colors, you’re not just playing baseball, you’re representing something deeper,” Skenes said. “When you’re watching us in this tournament, we hope you feel that too.”
Skenes set the all-time record for most strikeouts at seven by a Team USA pitcher at the World Baseball Classic in his first appearance in the tourney. In the biggest test of the WBC, Skenes went 4.1 innings and gave up one run, a first-inning homer to Junior Caminero. Skenes got two strikeouts in the win over the previously undefeated Team DR filled with MLB all-stars including Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Skenes, aside from his Players’ Tribune letter, is a man of few words — still after Sunday’s win, Skenes explained the significance of the semi-final victory, calling the Team DR lineup “the toughest lineup” he’s ever faced.
Now Team USA awaits the winner of Monday’s semifinal between Venezuela and Italy before taking the field one last time on Tuesday in the WBC Final.
Team USA entered the tournament as the favorites to bring home the hardware, and entering the finals, Skenes’ mindset isn’t focused on adding another trophy to his case — but winning to honor the real heroes of the United States.
“Our servicemen and women don’t have the luxury of losing, it’s not really an option for them,” Skenes said. “We’re not going to war, but [this] is what we do in America: we fight and we win. That’s our responsibility.”
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