ANAHEIM, Calif. -- As the Pittsburgh Pirates are making their way across Southern California, facing the Angels and Dodgers for their next two series, Paul Skenes seems to have found himself going down a trip across memory lane.
Growing up, to become the future number one pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, Skenes is an Orange County native and attended school at El Toro High School. He was also an Angels fan.
“It’s nice. In Orange County, there’s nowhere like it.”
Born in 2002, Skenes jokingly admits that he was responsible for an iconic moment in the franchise's history.
"I’d like to think I was the reason the Angels won a World Series because I was born that year," Skenes said. "But this was my team. Obviously growing up."
Skenes recalls coming to Angels games a fair amount as a kid. He was in the stands in April of 2018 watching Ohtani make his home debut as a pitcher after receiving free tickets from El Toro Alumni, Matt Chapman. A few days later, he was back at the ball park and saw Ohtani hit a home run right over his head.
“I did come to Ohtani’s home opener when he pitched. His first home start. It was against the A's." Skenes said. "... Came back a couple of days later. Sitting in right field, and he hit a ball probably like 470 or something like that. Right over our heads. Those are the two things that I remember well. But a lot of games. A lot of games up in here.”
While Skenes was going down this memory lane, thinking of moments he enjoyed coming to the ballpark as a kid, he also had a list of his favorite Angels players. This list had Ohtani, Erick Aybar, John Lackey, and of course, Mike Trout.
After coming out of the bullpen during warmups Tuesday afternoon, there were two things Skenes had never done. He'd never pitched in Angels Stadium or walked along the surface. Pitching will be something that will have to wait, as he is not scheduled to pitch again until Friday when the Pirates play the Dodgers.
“Gotta wait a couple more years to pitch at home so it is what it is but I’ll get to it.”
While Skenes is eager to pitch at Angels Stadium, Angels manager Ron Washington might feel similar. Or the complete opposite.
“If he’s on the rotation to pitch, I’m looking forward to it. If he’s not on the rotation to pitch. I’m looking forward to it.” Washington said.
Washington has good reason to feel that way as Skenes is the reigning NL Rookie of the Year after compiling an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts. This season looks to be not much different as he has 30 strikeouts in five starts with an ERA of 2.87.
Last season, the world got a taste of what he could do after winning the College World Series in 2023 with LSU and making his MLB Debut that same season, joining Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel to play in the majors the same season they were drafted. They were the first to do it since Garrett Crochet did in 2020 for the White Sox.
As Skenes was walking along the surface of Angels Stadium for the first time, he had his head down. Deciding to look up, he would see Trout standing out in the outfield after getting some early practice in shagging fly balls.
Skenes didn't mention to Trout that he grew up watching him, but recalled the moment as one that was pretty cool.
“Actually met him earlier today in the outfield. He was the first one out there doing early work for them," Skenes said. "Pretty cool to meet him. Got to spend a little bit of time with him.”
During his conversation with Trout, Skenes said he didn't ask him about any advice or tips, but recalled it as one that's more of a "Hey how are you doing, nice to meet you kind of thing."
While Skenes is enjoying the current homecoming of eating at one of his favorite burger spots, In-N-Out, he is blossoming quickly following the footsteps of his heroes in Trout and Ohtani and becoming a future star of baseball.
Right now, Skenes' face is everywhere in the world of baseball. Whether it's seeing him in commercials or on the cover of MLB The Show, joined alongside Jackson Holliday and Elly De La Cruz, Skenes is a star in the making.
While Skenes was attending games sitting out in right field, cutting out circles around his eyes as he and his friends would call it, it never occurred to him that one day he would get to play against one of his childhood heroes in Ohtani.
He says the moment never really occurred to him before he transferred to LSU and was pitching for the Air Force Academy in a game at Coors Field.
"I mean I remember a game back when I was at Airforce. When I was in Coors Field. And that was like the first time, really," Skenes said. "So I mean that was when I was in high school, I was a fan. Obviously came here for a game before the draft, and at that point it was like alright here we go."
While just his parents are at Angels Stadium to see the Pirates play on Tuesday, Skenes has been trying to make his way around to see friends and family and expects a packed house to see him pitch at Dodgers Stadium.
"LA is gonna be a zoo on Friday."