'We didn't believe it': Inside Paul Skenes' surprise Little League stop

The 10-year-old third baseman was wrapping up warmups for practice at Vestal Field outside of Pittsburgh when a teammate stopped and pointed.

Someone said it was Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Nobody bought it.

“We didn’t believe it at first,” Anthony told USA TODAY Sports, “but then we went over there and we saw him.”

The reigning Cy Young winner had been driving down Perry Highway in Wexford around 7 p.m. on Monday, June 8 when he saw the light still on at the Little League field. Anthony Greco and his teammates were getting ready for their tournament season.

Two hours later, when Anthony’s mom Courtney came to pick him up, there was Paul Skenes on the field with the kids.

“He just took all the time in the world to talk to them and answer questions,” Courtney said. “He signed autographs, he took pictures and just spent a lot of time with them.”

This was the night before Skenes was scheduled to face the defending World Series champion Dodgers at PNC Park.

“I just couldn’t believe he was there,” Anthony said. “I thought he’d have to practice or something because he’s pitching (Tuesday) night.”

But Skenes had an off day and all the time to talk to the coaches of the Ingomar Franklin Park Little League.

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“How do you throw your splinker?” one asked.

“How do you throw so hard all the time?” asked another.

Skenes shrugged and told the young pitchers to just throw as hard as they could. He signed everything the kids put in front of him; he posed for every picture.

Anthony, who had gone with his family to Altoona, Pa. on Aug. 26, 2023 to see Skenes make his Double-A debut, said that the All-Star was “taller and stronger” than he looks on TV.

When it was his turn to talk to Skenes, Anthony had a very direct question.

“I had a ball, so I just asked him, ‘Can you sign it?'” Anthony said with a laugh. “And then we got a picture after that.”

He is going to frame both and keep them in his room.

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The moment went viral in part because when he drove up to the field, Skenes was on the phone with his girlfriend Livvy Dunne. The former gymnast and current model and influencer posted about it on social media, writing she could believe her MLB boyfriend, “is just a boy” for pulling over to watch a Little League practice.

He told the adults at the field that he pulled over because he just loves baseball and remembers being that age and how much Little League meant to him.

Skenes showed up just after practice started around 7 p.m. He did not leave until after 9:15 p.m.

“I couldn’t believe he just spent all the time with the kids,” Courtney said. “To go to the field and see Paul Skenes, someone they look up to.

“They just couldn’t stop talking about it.”

Neither could anyone else who heard about it.

By the time they arrived, the story had already gone viral. It was on the nightly news. Anthony’s dad, Chris, who runs the league, was fielding phone calls from newspapers and television reporters. The pictures and videos were all over baseball social media.

For Anthony and the other kids, however, it was their own experience. A real life baseball star on their field with them. From here on out, Anthony Greco and his teammates and family will never forget it.