Pittsburgh Pirates Call Up Paul Skenes After Livvy Dunne Called It

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton didn't see it coming as recently as Monday. But apparently, national champion LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne knows more about her boyfriend than Shelton does.

"Here we go," Dunne said on an Instagram post Wednesday.

Paul Skenes, the first player picked in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft last July by Pittsburgh after pitching LSU to the national championship, was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to the Big Show by the Pirates on Wednesday. He is expected to start for Pittsburgh on Saturday at home against the Chicago Cubs (4:05 p.m., MLB.tv).

"He's scheduled to pitch in Indy this week," Shelton said incorrectly on Monday and added that he had not spoken "in any form or fashion" to anyone about Skenes pitching this week for the Pirates.

"There was speculation that he was going to pitch in this series or (on Sunday)," Shelton said. "I think when you have someone that’s talented like he is, there’s always going to be speculation. People are always going to have it figured out. Well, we haven’t figured it out yet."

Rare Air: Paul Skenes An Elite Pitcher, But He Wants To Fly Jets

But maybe Livvy Dunne, who began dating Skenes more than a year ago, already had.

On Sunday she posted a Pirates jersey on her SnapChat account. Pittsburgh radio talk show how Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7 FM The Fan posted the jersey on his X account.

So, Livvy wins. Now, it's Paul's turn.

Skenes had expressed frustration just recently about being brought along too slowly. He will have his chance in the Big Leagues after ripping up Triple-A through seven starts this season as he compiled a phenomenal 0.99 earned run average with no decisions. He struck out 45 in just 27 and a third innings. His WHIP (walks