Getting Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes’ attention wasn’t too difficult. Let me tell you how to do it.
The hype matched the moment. This past Saturday at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, it was unofficially Skenes Day. The 21-year-old was making his MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs. Although the overall top pick of the 2023 MLB Draft didn’t figure in the decision, a Pirates’ 10-9 victory, he did dazzle Chicago hitters.
Darting curveballs, fastballs, splinkers, and changeups, Skenes struck out 7 batters in four-plus innings of work. 17 of his pitches reached 100 mph. The nearly 35,000 fans on hand witnessing one of the most exciting and memorable games in recent Pirates’ history showed their unwavering support for Skenes, often standing when Cubs hitters had two strikes on them.
Athletes like Skenes are always in demand for sound bites by electronic media and quotes for scribes with pads and pens. Most of the time, questions are predictable and overused. Getting Skenes’ attention and keeping it is a result of a well-thought-out plan.
When watching last Saturday’s game live on MLB.TV, I thought back to when Skenes first reported to Pirate City this past February when attending his first spring training. Heading into the second week of workouts and before exhibition games began in the Grapefruit League, I wanted five minutes of time to speak with the hard-throwing right-handed hurler from California.
But, what to ask?
In listening to several reporters speaking with Skenes in front of his clubhouse stall, most of what he was to respond to seemed repetitive. Thoughts of his leading his alma mater, LSU, to the 2023 Men’s College World Series championship, his time enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy, and, of course, being the Pirates’ top draft selection were what was asked of him.
I had to have original material to gain and maintain Skenes’ attention. While pulling on his uniform and focusing on getting out on the field for morning drills, my time with the game’s newest celebrity was extremely limited.
My goal was to get Skenes to agree to my questioning without disrupting his rhythm of dressing and not causing him to be delayed in beginning his work. Most importantly, coming up with a unique topic, at least heading into the second week of spring training, was paramount.
The night before, I decided that tomorrow would be the day, early in the morning, that I would approach Skenes. Four other beat writers in Pirate City had pretty much quizzed Skenes on every aspect of his budding career – except for one.
The night before my five-minute meeting with Skenes, I decided that my questions would center around his baseball days at El Toro High in Orange County, California.
As far as I gathered, all coverage and conversations with Skenes were about his college days. I hadn’t seen anything about reporters asking about his days with the El Toro Chargers.
I knew there was a story waiting to dive into about El Toro’s uber-successful baseball program in Lake Forest, CA. Boy, was I right.
After concluding an interview with a reporter from AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, I budged my way up to Skenes and took a long, deep breath, well-prepared to speak high school baseball.
Skenes isn’t the first El Toro standout to make it to “The Show.” St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman, and former MLB catcher Austin Romine all came from coach Mike Gonzales’ program.
Mentioning Gonzales’ name, I knew I struck gold with Skenes. Breaking a smile as our talk began, it was clear that his former high school days remained vivid and important.
Long before signing a reported $9.2 million bonus to join the Pirates, Skenes’ three years of playing varsity ball for Gonzales at El Toro High meant the world to him – and still does.
Playing third base, catcher, and pitcher, Skenes registered a mind-blowing 0.33 ERA in his senior season. But I wanted to know more about why Gonzales has remained with the program for more than twenty years.
According to Skenes, Gonzales loves developing talent. Although he has received offers from other baseball programs, he remains at El Toro High by choice.
Skenes paints a picture of his time playing for Gonzales as one where he learned to be a better ball player and an even better man. He remembers sweeping out the dugouts and doing other "odd jobs” asked by Gonzales, who Skenes labels an “amazing resource.”
Vowing his continued full support of the El Toro baseball program, Skenes tells of meeting with Gonzales at the Chargers’ home field and lunch with his former coach when returning home to Lake Forest.
Gonzales was at Skenes’ draft party, at his home, when the announcement was made that he was the overall top pick of the draft.
Going forward with his promising MLB days as a Pirates’ pitcher, there is ample space in Skenes’ heart for his humble beginnings at El Toro. Throughout his career, it’s a sure bet that Skenes will listen to many coaches and perhaps as many managers on what to do and when while on the field. However, coach Mike Gonzales will always have his place at the front of the line for those who will influence Skenes’ decisions.
