Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes will embark on a noble mission this baseball season as he hopes to make it to the big leagues at some point this year.
Skenes pledged to raise money for the Gary Sinise Foundation on Wednesday to help support military veterans and first responders. He hopes to raise $100,000 for his cause.
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Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws a pitch during a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at LECOM Park on March 14, 2024, in Bradenton, Florida. (Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images)
“Join me this season as I support the Gary Sinise Foundation in raising funds for our nation’s veterans and first responders,” he wrote on X.
“I am personally donating $100 for every strikeout I record this season,” he added, as he advised his followers to join him and make a donation as well.
Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise started his foundation in 2011 after spending the previous decade volunteering with other organizations. In the past decade, the foundation has helped expand service efforts, providing the military, veteran and first responder communities with additional fundraising and outreach.
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Gary Sinise meets with Gold Star families at the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express Send-Off Celebration at Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 8, 2018. (Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images)
Skenes is set to start the 2024 season in the minors at Triple-A Indianapolis. The Indians have yet to name a starter for their first game of the season, which takes place Friday on the road against the Louisville Bats.
Indianapolis begins its home schedule on Tuesday against the Memphis Redbirds.
It’s unclear how long Skenes will be in the minors. He’s one of a handful of highly touted prospects who came out of college in 2023.
Skenes pitched for LSU. In 2023, he earned the National Pitcher of the Year award and the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. He’s also romantically tied to LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne.
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Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates warms up before the Baltimore Orioles game at Ed Smith Stadium on Feb. 29, 2024, in Sarasota, Florida. (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh isn’t expected to go far just yet, but Skenes will likely be able to bring more fans to PNC Park once the call-up is made.
Fox News’ Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
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