Pittsburgh Pirates Pitcher Honors Servicemen at World Baseball Classic

Paul Skeens, the standout pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is representing Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. At just 23, he expresses a heartfelt mission: to honor American servicemen and women through his performance on the mound.

Skeens, who previously attended the U.S. Air Force Academy for two years before transferring to LSU, shared with Team USA manager Mark DeRosa that this background is what motivated him to pitch. “That’s what we’re doing,” he stated. “This is the greatest country in the world. That’s what I believe. That’s why I wanted to serve and why I went to the Air Force Academy. And people like that don’t get the recognition they deserve.”

“We do this to represent the men and women who are fighting for us, along with so many other things that make this country the greatest country in the world. It makes this country look a little bit better,” he added.

Having big names like Aaron Judge from the New York Yankees participating alongside him makes Skeens feel that the team’s efforts extend far beyond individual accomplishments. “It’s going to be a great experience for me personally,” he mentioned, while also acknowledging that he won’t be able to wear his previous military uniforms. He emphasized, though, that the involvement of players like Judge shows the magnitude of what they’re attempting together—much larger than any one person.

The U.S. baseball team aims to draw inspiration from other Team USA sports that have recently triumphed, such as the men’s and women’s hockey teams, both defeating Canada to clinch gold medals. Skeens’ participation undoubtedly enhances the team’s chances.

Last season, Skeens won the National League Cy Young Award in only his second year in the majors, showcasing an impressive 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts over 187.2 innings. If the U.S. progresses through group stages, he has shared intentions to pitch in two games of the tournament.