Pirates' Paul Skenes And His Bobblehead Set for PNC Park
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Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes will take the mound for a marquee Saturday night matchup against the Cleveland Guardians that doubles as his first career bobblehead giveaway at PNC Park. The highly anticipated promotion, featuring the flame-throwing right-hander in his signature delivery features a unique baseball card style packaging, and will be awarded to the first 20,000 fans through the gates, which open at 2:30 PM ET for the 4:05 PM game.
Paul Skenes is 1/1.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 6, 2025
Good thing there are 20,000 of his bobblehead. pic.twitter.com/AOGAM7J82u
The timing couldn't be better for Pirates fans, as Skenes enters the start riding a dominant stretch in his first full MLB season. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick has compiled a 2.96 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 24.1 innings across four starts, showcasing the triple-digit fastball and wipeout splinker that have made him must-see viewing every fifth day.
His FIP, at 1.37, currently ranks third among all MLB starters, trailing only Toronto's Chris Bassitt and Kansas City's Cole Ragans. FIP, which stands for Fielding Independent Pitching, is a common metric used to assess a pitcher's success separate from his team's defensive performance. Skenes' consistent ability to strike out batters, as well as not walk them, means he should appear at the top of the FIP leaderboard all season long.
Paul Skenes, Frisbee 82mph Sweeper. 🥏
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 14, 2025
20 inches of horizontal break pic.twitter.com/FC6gD9kGL2
This interleague matchup presents an intriguing challenge, as Skenes has never faced the Guardians. Cleveland (9-9) comes to town after losing a series in Baltimore against the Orioles. The Pirates (7-12) will look to capitalize on another home series as they attempt to climb out of the cellar of the NL Central division.
The bobblehead giveaway marks Skenes' official arrival as the face of the franchise, joining the pantheon of iconic Pirates promotional items honoring Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Andrew McCutchen. With the team expecting a sellout crowd, Saturday's game could provide another signature moment in the young ace's meteoric rise.
Ethan Merrill is from Grand Rapids, MI, and brings with him a diverse background of experiences. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism, he worked with the Arizona Diamondbacks for three seasons before settling in the Pittsburgh area in 2020. With a passion for sports and a growing connection to his community, Ethan brings a fresh perspective to covering the Pittsburgh Pirates.