MLB Gets Its Taylor Swift: Olivia Dunne Becomes Fans’ Newest ‘Cringe’ Target After Paul Skenes Gets Called Up by Pirates

The big moment is finally here for Paul Skenes. From being one of the most hyped-up prospects in baseball, Skenes is now getting promoted to becoming a Major League starter. With the Pittsburgh Pirates announcing the call-up of their crown jewel, it’s a time for celebration for the 21-year-old. And looking at the TikTok post of his girlfriend and national champion gymnast Olivia Dunne, the good times may have already started.

Skenes and Dunne have been supporting each other’s careers since they began dating. From Skenes hyping up Dunne’s wins to Olivia enjoying her boyfriend’s career highs, they’ve been one of the favorite couples of both MLB and Gymnastics fans. So is it a surprise that Dunne’s latest TikTok video has gone viral? 

In the clip which is captioned “You both wake up from a nap and find out he’s in the MLB,” Dunne is seen in an excited mood. Livvy dances and does a spin while Skenes is visible in the background. Clearly, the couple is in great spirits after Skenes finally had a breakthrough in the major leagues. While some fans called the video “cringe,” others wondered if baseball had found its Taylor Swift. After all, similar to Swift and Travis Kelce, Dunne and Skenes have captured the imagination of their fans too.

Olivia Dunne has long been the biggest “fan” of her boyfriend. From cheering for him during his Spring Break debut (though she wasn’t there physically) to hoping to be in the stadium for Skenes’ major league debut, Dunne wants to be there with her man. So with Skenes expected to debut on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, one wonders if we’ll see Livvy sitting somewhere in the ballpark.

However, while she is excited, the Pirates are hoping that their ploy to limit Paul Skenes’ pitching works. The team is currently struggling and the Pirates need Skenes to become their Jack Sparrow.

Expectations are high from Paul Skenes as the Pittsburgh Pirates struggle

The Pittsburgh Pirates currently sit last in the NL Central but it’s mostly due to their hitting woes. Skenes will be joining the likes of Mitch Keller, Martin Perez, and Baily Falter in the Pirates’ pitching staff. That’s a good thing for the 21-year-old, as pressure will be relatively less on him. The 6-foot-6 Skenes’ ability to regularly cross 100 mph velocity did leave some worries over his longevity.

Perhaps that’s why, according to ESPN, he hasn’t thrown over 75 pitches in any of Triple-A games this season. The Pirates want to preserve their top prospect and one wonders if that plan will continue even now. As a result, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Pirates limited Paul Skenes’ pitch count initially. But whatever the case, after that breathtaking spring break display, all eyes are set on this 21-year-old.