Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes had a week filled with ups and downs, culminating in a somewhat awkward moment at Pat McAfee’s “Big Night AHT” event.
The show, held in front of over 12,000 fans at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ arena, was meant to be a night of celebration, but for Skenes, it became the stage for a memorable fail.
A night to remember… for some
While the evening boasted excitement, with stars like Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger making appearances, it wasn’t quite as stellar for the 22-year-old pitcher.
One of the key moments of the night involved a football challenge, where a lucky fan could win significant sums of money by throwing a football through a large ring. However, Skenes missed not once, but twice, first for $1 million, and then again for $500,000.
In a moment that had the crowd on edge, Skenes, known for his fireball pitching on the mound, simply couldn’t make the throw. As the crowd groaned, it was clear that this was not the highlight of his night.
A challenging week for the young star
Skenes’ public misfire was compounded by a difficult start to the week in his professional career. On Tuesday, the young pitcher faced his first loss of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up five runs in the game. It was a tough outing after a promising start to his career, adding more pressure on him in front of the ever-watchful Pittsburgh fans.
Despite the setbacks, McAfee and the fans at the event remained supportive of Skenes, reassuring him that mistakes happen. As McAfee said, “Pittsburgh still loves you.”
Off the field, Skenes also has a reason to smile-he’s dating LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, and with his talents and support, it’s clear Skenes is still winning in life.
Read the full article here
