Paul Skenes was in the stands in California, back in April 2018, when Shohei Ohtani made his first home start in America.
Six years on, the two come face-to-face in the first meeting between baseball’s biggest star and MLB’s most exciting prospect in years – perhaps since Ohtani landed on these shores.
Skenes will take the hill for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday for the second in a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The pitcher was selected first overall by the Pirates in the 2023 draft. His MLB debut came last month. Now comes his biggest test so far.
Back in 2018, Skenes was part of the El Toro high school team who travelled from Lake Forest, California, to Angel Stadium.
Paul Skenes is slated to start for the Pirates against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday
It will see MLB’s most exciting prospect in years take on the sport’s biggest star, Shohei Ohtani
They were given free tickets to see the Angels and a free lesson from Ohtani, who shone on only his second Major League start.
‘Obviously didn’t know exactly what the baseball world had at the time, but it was cool to watch him compete,’ Skenes said on Tuesday.
Since then, Ohtani has won two AL MVP awards and joined the Dodgers in a $700million deal – the richest contract in team sports history.
Skenes, meanwhile, has grown to become the top pitching prospect of his era.
‘I grew up watching him,’ the 22-year-old said of Ohtani. ‘As a two-way guy, that was what I was trying to be before I got drafted. He was an inspiration in a lot of ways.’
Ohtani is not pitching this season after a second Tommy John surgery on his elbow, while Skenes’ days as a two-way threat ended at college.
He was a catcher and hitter at high school and during his first two years of college. But he decided to focus on his pitching from his junior year at Louisiana State.
Skenes was in the stands to see Ohtani make his home American debut back in April 2018
The pitcher is dating gymnast Olivia Dunne, who has been in the stands to see him play
In four Major League starts, he has already struck out 30 hitters with a 2.45 ERA over 22 innings. His relationship with Olivia Dunne, meanwhile, ensures Skenes is rarely out of the headlines.
The gymnast has often been in the stands to watch her boyfriend during his impressive start to life with the Pirates.
On Wednesday, Skenes will hope to dent Ohtani’s bid for a third MVP award. Despite not pitching, the Japanese star is hitting .322 with 14 home runs in his first season with the Dodgers.
He is flanked in the LA top order by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. ‘It’s the big leagues,’ Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. ‘One of the best teams in baseball… you just have to execute pitches. It’s really good for our young players to see a team of this caliber.’
Skenes added: ‘He’s pretty darn good… I’ve just got to execute.’
On Wednesday night, Skenes will hope to dent Ohtani’s bid for a third MVP award
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