“It’s special,” Skenes told local reporters before the Pirates faced the Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday night.

In an announcement made Tuesday on MLB Network, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes said he will play for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Paul Skenes pitched like the ace he is against the New York Mets' star-studded lineup on Monday, allowing just one run on six hits with six strikeouts in six innings.