Livvy Dunne Opens Up About Watching Paul Skenes Pitch
Livvy Dunne reveals the reason it is – For Livvy Dunne, the experience of cheering for her romantic partner, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, presents a unique challenge. At twenty-three years of age, the former LSU gymnast has faced immense pressure on the mat, yet she admits that observing Skenes take the mound is even more demanding. During his starts, she navigates a chaotic mix of feelings, often finding herself reacting visibly to every pitch.
From Gymnast to Supportive Girlfriend
Speaking alongside Skenes during a segment on MLB Network, Dunne reflected on her public reactions. She noted that her facial expressions have not gone unnoticed by fans online. “Obviously, I think I got put on blast a few times while watching him,” she explained. Her anxiety stems from a deep desire for his success. “I get nervous because I obviously want him to do his best. I love him. He usually pops out, does his thing, does amazing. But I feel every emotion while he’s out there doing his thing.”
The transition from athlete to spectator has been particularly difficult for the social media star. Unlike her gymnastics days where she controlled her own performance, watching Skenes requires patience and trust. “It’s completely out of my control, which is really hard because while I was competing, I mean, I was in control of my own destiny. Now I just need to sit back, relax and trust him.”
One particularly memorable moment occurred when Skenes gave up a home run to George Springer of the Blue Jays. Dunne was caught on camera mouthing a curse word, a reaction that quickly went viral across social media platforms. Despite the embarrassment, she continues to attend games regularly, showing unwavering support for her boyfriend and the Pirates organization.
Before the season began, Skenes asked Dunne to stand in the batter’s box during his warm-ups. She had been putting off the experience, intimidated by the prospect of facing a professional pitcher. “I think all offseason Paul wanted me to stand in while he was pitching. I’ve been procrastinating all offseason because it’s scary and everybody told me it would be very scary,” she shared. “It was the last day of the offseason before he went to spring training and he was like, ‘Nope, come. You’re going to stand there.’ And I thought he was joking, and I stood and I was frozen.”
Skenes responded to her bravery with a memorable gesture. “She had been asking me, too. She wanted to see it, or she said she wanted to see it, and then time comes, we got to see if you’re about it,” Skenes said. He proceeded to buzz her tower, throwing a pitch high and inside to demonstrate his accuracy and power.
Currently, Skenes is having an impressive season with an 8-8 record and a 3.57 ERA. The Pirates sit at 50-47, positioning themselves in the Wild Card race. As the NL Cy Young winner, his performances continue to draw attention from fans and analysts alike, with Dunne always in the stands offering her support.
