The Oath and the Number

Sworn In

Paul Skenes showed up at the United States Air Force Academy right out of El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California, and the new cadets were lined up and sworn in with the Oath of Enlistment. He was in casual clothes. He was pledging to potentially risk his life for the country. He told The Players' Tribune it gave him chills from pure pride — one of the highlights of his life.

He was a two-way player there, won the 2022 John Olerud Award as the nation's top two-way college player, then transferred to LSU to pitch only. He helped win the College World Series as Most Outstanding Player, went first overall to Pittsburgh in the 2023 draft, and was in the big leagues by May 2024.

Five Hundred

On June 26, 2026, Skenes recorded his 500th career strikeout. He has 524 now, across 436 innings, with a 2.35 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Every one of his 76 big-league appearances has been a start. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in his first season and won the Cy Young in his second. He has been an All-Star all three years he has been in the league.

Pirates catcher Joey Bart told Sports Illustrated that Skenes has an unbelievable work ethic and preparation off the field and in the clubhouse that sets him apart.

The Hill

There is a second story from the Academy. After the anthem played following news that 11 Marines had died, Skenes saw two students who hadn't stood at attention. He went up the hill to confront and scold them about respecting the moment and the flag. His coach there called it a defining example of his character, morals, and love of country.

Skenes is 24, in his third season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, still starting.

Reporting: The Players' Tribune, Sports Illustrated, MLB.com. Career and biographical data: MLB StatsAPI, via the Fever engine.