Pirates Star Paul Skenes Surprises Little League Practice

Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Paul Skenes was driving through Wexford, Pennsylvania on Monday night when he noticed something that made him pull over. The lights were still on at Vestal Field, where the Ingomar Franklin Park Little League was practicing.

The 24-year-old pitcher walked down to a park bench and started watching the 10 to 12-year-olds go through their drills. Within minutes, a few kids and parents spotted him, and word spread like wildfire across the field.

What happened next turned an ordinary Monday practice into a memory these young players will carry forever. Skenes stayed for over two hours, signing countless autographs, posing for photos, and playing catch with the kids. And this wasn't just any Tuesday for him. He had a start against the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers the next night.

"Seeing the smiles on the boys' faces was just unbelievable," said Eddie Dubis, an Ingomar coach who witnessed the entire evening. "They were totally starstruck, in awe of what happened."

Chris Greco, the league's president, was away on a work trip in New York when his phone lit up with texts. His three sons were at practice that night. When he called home, his 10-year-old son Anthony could barely get words out to describe meeting his idol.

Like many young Pittsburgh baseball fans, Anthony wears a Skenes jersey to every Pirates game. Meeting him in person at his own Little League field left him flabbergasted.

The Ripple Effect

Greco noticed something remarkable this season. More kids signed up to play Little League baseball for Ingomar in 2025 than any year he'd seen before. He credits Skenes' stardom and the Pirates' exciting season for bringing kids back to the diamond.

"To the kids here in Pittsburgh, he's the biggest thing in baseball by far," Greco said. "He is baseball."

The league, run entirely by volunteer parents, plans to send Skenes a customized Ingomar jersey and care package as a thank you. They hope to keep the connection alive beyond this magical evening.

For Skenes, the decision to stop was simple. He told the coaches he's a baseball nut who loves everything about the game. He remembers what Little League meant to him at that age, and how special those moments were.

When the coaches offered him a beer for his time, Skenes politely declined. He had the Dodgers waiting for him the next night.