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Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes may be the biggest, if not one of the biggest supporters of the US military among active MLB players.
So for him to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic meant a lot.
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Pitcher Paul Skenes #30 of Team USA throws during a workout at the Papago Park Sports Complex on March 2, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
“First of all, I care because I’m from America. I love America. I’ve watched the WBCs in the past and there’s no bigger stage or bigger honor than wearing America on your chest,” he said Monday on MLB Network.
“And I think the other one, I went to the Air Force Academy for two years. I wanted to serve. I intended to serve and I ended up transferring to LSU. I won a national championship there, did some cool things there. But there was a big part of me that was dead set on serving in the military as a career after college. So, this isn’t service, but it’s a pretty close second.”
Over the past two MLB seasons, Skenes has pitched for a cause bigger than wins, losses or Cy Young Awards. He partnered with the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) for a strikeout campaign. For every strikeout Skenes throws this season, he pledged to donate $100 to the organization. The foundation has helped expand service efforts, providing the military, veterans, and first responder communities with additional fundraising and outreach activities.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) watches from the dugout in the sixth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Skenes had 216 strikeouts last season and won the NL Cy Young Award for the first time.
Last week he made it clear that he will pitch in the World Baseball Classic to honor the men and women of the military.
“That’s what we do it for,” Skenes told The Athletic. “This is the greatest country in the world. That’s what I believe. That’s why I wanted to serve, that’s why I went to the Air Force Academy. And those people don’t get the recognition they deserve.
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes (30) throws out a pitch in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park on February 25, 2026. (Jonathan Dyer/Image Images)
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“We do it to represent the men and women who fight for us, along with many other things that make this country the best country in the world. That puts it into perspective a little bit.”
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