Paul Skenes to represent Team USA in 2026 World Baseball Classic
Paul Skenes to represent Team USA in 2026 World Baseball Classic
In an announcement made Tuesday on MLB Network, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes said he will play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
According to a report from the outlet, Skenes decided in April when talking with Team USA manager Mark DeRosa. The right-handed pitcher watched his country win the gold medal against Puerto Rico in 2017 and wanted to be a part of the team ever since. He also represented the country as part of the collegiate national team and played his first two years of college baseball at Air Force.
Skenes represented the Pirates as the starter for the All-Star game last season before winning the National League Rookie of the Year. He remains one of the strongest arms in all of baseball and will show it off on the international stage next year.
After leading LSU to the national championship, Skenes was drafted first overall by the Pirates in 2023. Through nine starts and 54.2 innings pitched in 2025, he boasts a 2.63 ERA and 53 strikeouts.
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