PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes normally locks in and focuses entirely on his job when he’s on the pitcher’s mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he also knows how much the game of baseball means to those watching.

Skenes gave a ball to a young Pirates fan in his most recent start against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 28. The young fan couldn’t believe his luck after getting the ball, sharing the moment with his family member.

The fan got to see another incredible performance from Skenes, who showed everyone in the ball park, once again, that he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball.

He didn’t allow any runs nor walks and just four hits, while posting seven strikeouts over 95 pitches in 6.2 innings pitched, in the Pirates 10-1 victory.

Skenes, who only got nine runs of support combined over his five previous starts, got more runs total in this victory, as he earned his first win in over a month.

He currently has a 2.15 ERA over 75.2 innings pitched in 12 starts, allowing just 18 earned runs, while posting 77 strikeouts to 18 walks. He also has an opposing batting average of .187, a 0.92 WHIP and a 9.20 K/9 in 2025.

Skenes ranks leads the MLB in innings pitched, while ranking fourth in opposing batting average, sixth in WHIP, ninth in ERA and tied for ninth in strikeouts.

One of his best performances came vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 18. Skenes allowed just one earned run, a walk and three hits, while tying a season-high of nine strikeouts.

He would throw a complete game, but would only pitch eight innings in the 1-0 loss for the Pirates.

Skenes shutdown a strong Dodgers‘ offense in a 3-0 victory on April 25 at Dodgers Stadium. He posted nine strikeouts, while allowing just five hits and no walks over 6.1 innings.

He comes off a strong 2024 season, where he won National League Rookie of the Year, earned All-MLB First Team honors and started for the NL in the All-Star Game.

Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Broderick Jones has made a significant change to himself this offseason. After knowing he would switch from right tackle to left tackle, Jones changed his workout routine and diet, and dropped from 325 pounds to 305 pounds.

“I wanted to come back a little leaner. Because it gives me a chance to gain weight going into training camp and throughout the season. Instead of coming back heavy and then having to lose weight just to gain it back, it’s just a hard process. So I just wanted to focus on coming back at a good enough weight to where I can maintain, but also gain if I have to,” Jones said.

Jones has played 121 snaps at left tackle in his rookie season, but the rest of his games since that moment have been at right tackle.

Jones admits after playing at right tackle so much, it is taking him a bit of time to get his bearings back on the left side, but it is coming back to him quickly. He played most of his games in college at left tackle, though they cross-trained him in practice.

“At first it did, but when they initially moved me to right tackle and I played it for so long and then they tried to make me like the swing tackle, it was kind of funky,” Jones said. “But I knew I would be going back to left. So this offseason, I just tried to focus on nothing but the left side and just continue to work that way. Just to try and get back the feel of the position… Being back (at LT), I feel like it’s a bigger boost for me just because I’ve been used to playing on the left side.”

General manager Omar Khan wanted to move Jones to left tackle in his second season. The consistent switching has forced Jones to learn a new movement skillset, and he has admitted he is a bit uncomfortable on the right side, even after two years of playing there.

Now, it is about getting his mental reps right, and reinforcing the playbook from the left side.

“It’s just flipping the plays in my head. Because some of our plays, they’re flip-flopped backwards,” Jones said. “So you hear them and they might be going one way, but it may be called the other way. So just staying locked in with the plays and just making sure you know them. And you know the plays, you can play at 110%.”

Jones now gets to play his natural spot and is lighter than he has ever been in his NFL career, which could be the catalyst for him to take a step forward as a player.