Skenes tells MLBN he plans to play for Team USA

Just four years after leaving the Air Force Academy to pursue baseball, Paul Skenes intends to represent his country on the diamond.

The former LSU ace told MLB Network Tuesday that he plans to play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The 2026 version with be the sixth playing of the event. It’s set to begin the first week of March next spring.

Skenes burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2024, starting the All-Star game just two months into his professional career. He was later named the National League Rookie of the Year and finished third in the Cy Young voting.

In March, he was Pittsburgh’s Opening Day starter against Miami.

The 23-year-old fireballer sports an ERA of 2.69 this season for the Pirates however the team has already lost four games in which he allowed two runs or fewer.