Olivia Dunne is usually associated with a bubbly, upbeat presence, but during a Super Bowl weekend interview, she shared a moment she described as “scary”. While spending time with her boyfriend, MLB pitcher Paul Skenes, Dunne found herself standing in front of a ball coming in at professional speed. What started as a casual video quickly became a reminder of how intimidating baseball can be when you’re not the one trained to face it.
The moment gained attention through a TikTok video Dunne posted, showing Skenes pitching while she stepped into the batter’s box. Instead of swinging, she froze. For anyone who isn’t a professional hitter, seeing a ball come your way at 100-102 mph is enough to make instinct take over. Dunne later explained that she couldn’t even bring herself to attempt a swing, a reaction many viewers found completely relatable.
When speed changes everything
Facing that kind of velocity isn’t just about courage, it’s about experience. Dunne made evident that even feeling the air move as the ball passed her was enough to understand the adrenaline MLB players deal with. She admitted she genuinely doesn’t know how hitters manage it, especially when the margin for error is so small and the consequences of getting hit are very real.
While the situation looked funny on camera, there was also an underlying seriousness to it. It was clear there was never real danger, as Skenes would never intentionally put her at risk. Still, the speed of the pitch alone highlighted how quickly a harmless moment can feel overwhelming when you’re not used to that level of play.
A viral clip with a deeper message
The trust between them was evident, and the moment worked because. It also challenged the common perception that baseball isn’t physically intense, showing just how much respect the sport demands at the highest level.
Dunne endured the moment head-on, even if that meant standing perfectly still. What seemed like a simple TikTok clip turned into a clear reminder of the speed, risk, and adrenaline that define professional baseball-and why facing a pitcher like Paul Skenes is something most people aren’t built to do.
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