Pittsburgh has long been a major sports market. With all three of its major sports teams –the Pirates in MLB, the Steelers in the NFL, and the Penguins in the NHL — having won championships, the city has been known for its sports success.
And while the different franchises and their respective fan bases rarely intersect, Paul Skenes has become the talking point for the whole city. The star pitcher’s systematic demolition of opponent batting lineups has made him an MLB sensation.
But it was the recent praise he got from a Pittsburgh legend from the Penguins that made his day.
Paul Skenes’s All-Star Game Feat Earns Him Praise From Sidney Crosby
Since being drafted by the Pirates in 2023, Skenes has been the rookie to watch out for in the league. With his 6’6″ frame, the pitcher snatched the Rookie of the Year award last season. And this season, too, he stands as a contender for the Cy Young Award.
And in this year’s MLB All-Star Game, he became the first pitcher to start the game in both of his first two seasons. To mark this occasion, Penguins legend Sidney Crosby has some tall words of praise. “I’ve been following him,” the Penguins’ captain said.
He further added, “When he was pitching, and I think it was, he went seven, and he got pulled because they were saving his arm. I was really hoping they kept him in, but I understood. In the locker room, we talk about him; we see him.”
The two had a chance to meet on Pat McAfee’s ‘Big Night Aht.’ Crosby was all praise for Skenes and his height. He mentioned, “First thing that stands out, he’s a big guy.” He also said, “If he’s pitching from the mound, I mean, the ball is coming out of his hand like 10 feet closer.
“He’s that tall. And he already throws it super hard,” Crosby said. The three-time NHL champion also praised the maturity of Skenes and his pride in his game. In addition to that, “You see the highlights of him getting ready for games, all the different stuff he does, and then his performances speak for themselves.”
Crosby sees Skenes as a guy who can win. But it is not just Crosby who praises Skenes. Skenes himself attended his first NHL game when the Penguins defeated the Washington Capitals on April 17.
Skenes said after the game, “He’s a guy that kind of transcends the sport.” He said it was an honor to represent the same city. Skenes said he would continue looking up to Crosby as he embraces his role in Pittsburgh.
