Major League Baseball seemed just as excited about welcoming Livvy Dunne to the big leagues as it was for her boyfriend Paul Skenes’ MLB debut.
The flame-throwing Pirates prospect was called up for his first start in the majors on Saturday, in which he went four innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven.
The MLB TikTok account posted a clip from Dunne’s interview Saturday with SportsNet Pittsburgh with the caption, “Livvy Dunne entering her MLB WAG era.”
Dunne, of course, is a standout athlete of her own, starring on the LSU gymnastics team as one of the top NIL earners in all of college sports.
Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, also played at LSU.
“I always say, it’s way harder to be the person in the stands watching because I’m not in control,” Dunne said in the clip MLB posted. “I can’t control — I don’t know how to throw a 100 mile (per hour) fastball, but it’s hard to have no control. Especially with gymnastics when you’re just watching. But I know he’s got this and I just have a lot of confidence in him.”
with the Pirates on Saturday. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Skenes, 21, struck out the first two batters he faced and topped out at 102 mph.
His fastball reached at least 99.6 mph 27 times throughout his 84-pitch outing, and he hit at least 100 mph 17 times.
In seven starts with Triple-A Indianapolis this season, Skenes has a 0.99 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 27 ⅓ innings.
“I have so many amazing memories with him but I know how hard he has worked for this moment,” Dunne said in the interview. “Seriously, there’s nothing that can top this, I’m just so proud.”
Dunne, 21, is coming off a national championship with the LSU gymnastics team last month.
Though she’s graduating this year, Dunne has yet to decide if she’ll use her fifth year of eligibility granted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.