Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has confirmed his relationship with LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, putting an end to weeks of speculation.
Skenes had a remarkable season at LSU, being named the SEC Pitcher of the Year with a 1.69 ERA and 13-2 record.
He was subsequently chosen as the No. 1 overall pick by the Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft. During an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Skenes discussed his relationship with Dunne and the challenges they face as high-level athletes.
He expressed appreciation for having someone by his side who understands the pressures he experiences.
However, he also acknowledged that the public attention can be taxing, especially when going out in Baton Rouge, as they often attract fans seeking autographs and pictures.
“It’s nice, for sure,” Skenes said. “It can be a pain in the butt sometimes, to be honest, in terms of actually going somewhere. If one of us went out in Baton Rouge [La.] by ourselves, there’s probably gonna be someone there asking for something — picture, autograph, whatever.
“It’s nice to be able to have that conversation. She does get it. I do wish she could come to a baseball game and just enjoy it. It does irk me. I don’t have any control over it. She really doesn’t either. I’m sure it’ll get better as I go up levels, but that’s something I want for her.”
While Skenes isn’t as active on social media as Dunne, he sees the positive aspect of it in engaging with fans.
“She doesn’t like seeing some of it, too,” Skenes said of Dunne. “It’s worse for her. I’ve told her, ‘People are gonna write about you. People are gonna write about me. If it rattles you, if it makes you upset, you gotta find a way to either not see it or not get upset over it.’ In my mind, it’s a lot easier to not see it than not get upset over it.”
However, he also recognizes the negative side, believing that social media can empower individuals to spread hate. He shared that Dunne is also affected by this negativity and encourages her to find ways to protect herself from it, emphasizing the importance of not allowing the online comments to affect one’s emotions.
Skenes expressed his desire for Dunne to be able to enjoy a baseball game without the pressure and scrutiny they face, but understands that it may improve as he advances in his career.
Lucky guy.
Check out more of Livvy Dunne below:
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