Paul Skenes arrived at Team USA‘s Arizona camp this week for his first World Baseball Classic workout, while his girlfriend Olivia Dunne enjoyed the desert sunshine and shared glimpses of the moment online.
Dunne posted an Instagram story wearing a red outfit and a 2024 All-Star cap, soaking up the sun. She also filmed Skenes entering the Team USA clubhouse just behind New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
She captioned one post with a single word – “Aura” – underscoring her admiration for Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner. Both he and Judge are set to represent the United States in the WBC for the first time.
Skenes joins a loaded rotation that includes AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, along with Logan Webb and Nolan McLean, giving Team USA formidable depth on the mound.
The 23-year-old is scheduled to make his first WBC start against Team Mexico on March 9. Before that, he will face the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition matchup at Scottsdale Stadium.
“The training, I don’t think, was too different,” Skenes told Pat McAfee. “There were some things we ramped up a little earlier, but I don’t think it’s too much different.
“Putting on the jersey … walking into the clubhouse today, seeing everybody in there, is pretty special. Getting to put on the jersey – it’s a feeling you can’t really put into words.”
Tarik Skubal is expected to return to the Detroit Tigers after a single appearance, but Skenes will remain with Team USA throughout the tournament.
The pitching staff is rounded out by Clay Holmes, Mason Miller, Griffin Jax, Garrett Whitlock and Clayton Kershaw, forming one of the most star-studded groups in the field.
They will open pool play against Brazil on Friday, March 6 at 20:00 ET/17:00 PT, airing live on FOX, officially launching this year’s highly anticipated World Baseball Classic.
Skenes ready to avenge USA ahead of World Baseball Classic
After finishing runner-up in 2023 to Team Japan, Team USA enters the WBC determined to reclaim the title. Led by captain Aaron Judge and ace Paul Skenes, the Americans are aiming to improve on last cycle’s narrow defeat.
Pitching proved to be a vulnerability in the previous tournament, but Skenes adds a new layer of dominance. Manager Mark DeRosa has yet to finalize specific roles or pitch limits, though Skenes is widely expected to headline a deep rotation.
Additional arms such as Logan Webb, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, Mason Miller, Griffin Jax, Garrett Whitlock and Clayton Kershaw provide both experience and versatility.
In 2023, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout delivered a dramatic finale, with Ohtani striking out the Los Angeles Angels star to secure the championship for Japan. The showdown elevated global interest in the tournament and cemented that edition as one of the most memorable in international baseball history.
Trout will not participate in 2026 due to insurance concerns, while Ohtani, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is expected to serve primarily as designated hitter after agreements limited his pitching workload to preserve his arm.
Roki Sasaki, another elite Japanese pitcher, missed much of 2025 through injury, leaving Ohtani as the focal point for the Samurai Japan squad at the Tokyo Dome.
Ohtani‘s 2023 MVP run – batting .435 with 10 RBIs and posting a 2-0 record with a 1.86 ERA – set a lofty benchmark. This time, Team USA will rely heavily on Skenes and Judge to counter that challenge.
With Skenes making his tournament debut and a pitching staff stacked with elite talent, expectations are high that Team USA can lift the trophy – while Dunne‘s supportive “Aura” post offers a glimpse into the personal side of one of baseball’s brightest young stars.
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