Paul Skenes was in the stands in California, back in April 2018, when Shohei Ohtani made his first home start in the United States.
Six years later, the two come face to face in the first meeting between baseball’s biggest star and MLB’s most exciting prospect in years, perhaps since Ohtani landed on these shores.
Skenes will take the hill for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday for the second of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The pitcher was selected first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 draft. His MLB debut came last month. He now comes the biggest test of him yet.
In 2018, Skenes was part of the El Toro High School team that traveled from Lake Forest, California, to Angel Stadium.
Paul Skenes is scheduled to start for the Pirates against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
It will see the most exciting MLB prospect in years take on the sport’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani.
They received free tickets to see the Angels and a free lesson from Ohtani, who shined in just his second major league start.
“I obviously didn’t know exactly what the baseball world had at the time, but it was cool to see him compete,” Skenes said Tuesday.
Since then, Ohtani has won two American League Most Valuable Player awards and joined the Dodgers in a $700 million deal, the richest contract in the history of team sports.
Meanwhile, Skenes has grown into the best pitching prospect of his era.
“I grew up watching him,” the 22-year-old said of Ohtani. ‘As a two-way person, that’s what he was trying to be before he was drafted. “He was an inspiration in many ways.”
Ohtani won’t pitch this season after a second Tommy John surgery on his elbow, while Skenes’ days as a two-way threat ended in college.
He was a catcher and hitter in high school and during his first two years of college. But he decided to focus on pitching since his junior year at Louisiana State.
Skenes was in the stands to see Ohtani make his US home debut in April 2018.
The pitcher is dating gymnast Olivia Dunne, who has been in the stands to watch him play.
In four major league starts, he has already struck out 30 batters with a 2.45 ERA in 22 innings. Meanwhile, his relationship with Olivia Dunne ensures Skenes rarely leaves the headlines.
The gymnast has often been in the stands to watch her boyfriend during his impressive start in life with the Pirates.
On Wednesday, Skenes hopes to make a dent in Ohtani’s bid for a third MVP award. Despite not pitching, the Japanese star is hitting .322 with 14 home runs in his first season with the Dodgers.
He is flanked in Los Angeles’ top order by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. “It’s the big leagues,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. ‘One of the best teams in baseball… you just have to make pitches. “It’s really good for our young players to see a team of this caliber.”
Skenes added: “It’s pretty good… I just have to execute it.”
On Wednesday night, Skenes will hope to put a dent in Ohtani’s bid for a third MVP award.
