Baseball Fans React to Paul Skenes Obviously Being Named Pirates' Opening Day Starter

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The Pittsburgh Pirates posted an awesome behind-the-scenes video to social media on Saturday morning of the moment that manager Derek Shelton informed Paul Skenes that he would be the team's Opening Day starting pitcher.
Here's a look:
The moment Paul Skenes found out he was starting on Opening Day. pic.twitter.com/xLJUjPKpgY
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 15, 2025
Given that Skenes—just 22 years old—boasted an 11-3 record in 2024 while being named the NL's All-Star Game starter, the NL Rookie of the Year and an All-MLB first team pitcher, it was fairly obvious that Pittsburgh would decide on him to take the mound to start the season.
Because of this almost certainty, fans across X (formerly Twitter) reacted justly to the Pirates even having to announce it. Here's a look:
I think we knew this last July, right?
— JW (@WhiteJohn22) March 15, 2025
Shocking they didn't go with Falter
— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) March 15, 2025
Shocker…
— Izenears (@IzenEars) March 15, 2025
Like he didn't already know 😭
— W1nter (@afc_winter) March 15, 2025
— Great North Sports (@SportsocracyGN) March 15, 2025
Bro what? I thought it was automatically his lmaoooo. Stop trynna be like everyone else, we know he’s the starter. Acting like he was in a competition 💀
— Blake_Wrld10 (@Blakezwrld10) March 15, 2025
Would’ve thought there were leaning towards Jared Jones
— 𝘿𝙖𝙧 (@livpunkly) March 15, 2025
I mean he started the All Star game and was third in Cy Young so what’d we expect?
— Chris Rost (@thechrisrost) March 15, 2025
Like there was another person who was going to start 🙄🙄🙄
— Aj Roland (@Uh_ayjay) March 15, 2025
He found out he was the 2025 Opening Day SP when he first stepped on a big league rubber last season
— ⚾️ Shoeless Dro Jackson 👟 (@SavageNtheBox) March 15, 2025
Skenes and the Pirates will open up their 2025 season in Miami, taking on the Marlins at 4:10 p.m. EST from loanDepot Park.
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Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master's in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.
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