Pirates' Paul Skenes commits to U.S. for 2026 WBC

Field Level Media|published: 05/13/2025, 12:12pm EDT

May 12, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the New York Mets during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes committed Tuesday to pitch for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Skenes, 22, joins New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge as the second player to publicly pledge his services to the U.S. squad for the global competition.

Judge already was designated as the team captain by manager Mark DeRosa, who skippered the squad to a runner-up finish to Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Skenes was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and earned All-Star and National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2024.

The right-hander is 3-4 with a 2.63 ERA through nine starts this season, striking out 53 batters and walking 15 in 54 2/3 innings of work.

--Field Level Media