Paul Skenes shares his feelings about girlfriend Olivia Dunne being more famous than him: "She got to that point earlier than I did"

One year ago, Paul Skenes was known to scouts and a plethora of MLB executives. However, the then-LSU pitcher was hardly a household name for baseball fans. Now, he is approaching a status of that kind.

After a meteoric rise in his freshman MLB campaign of 2024, Skenes was named the NL Rookie of the Year. Attracting much fan interest, Skenes recently sat down with Jim Lachimia of MLB.com to discuss his rise to prominence.

One of the lines of questioning pertained to Paul Skenes' girlfriend, Olivia Dunne. In addition to being a varsity LSU gymnast, Dunne is a TikTok sensation who boasts tens of millions of followers across social media. When discussing his girlfriend's worldwide fame, Skenes said:

"She got to that point in her life a little bit earlier than I did. So, with the Draft and all of that, she was able to help me with those experiences. And I think I’m able to help her. We’re definitely able to share some of those experiences and help each other out."

Pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024, it did not take long for Paul Skenes to start turning heads. In addition to his 6-foot-6 frame, the right-hander went 11-3, pitching to a 1.96, and tossing some 170 strikeouts across 133 innings of work.

In 2020, during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Olivia Dunne began posting videos of her various routines on social media. Before long, her popularity exploded. Now, Olivia Dunne's content transcends just gymnastics and features content ranging from li-syncs to lifestyle videos.

"Paul Skenes: National Champion. Olivia Dunne: National Champion." - tik

Although Dunne's success has made her incredible wealthy, it has also come at a cost. The 22 year-old revealed that she no longer attends in-person classes at LSU, and travels with a full-time security detail, citing safety concerns.

Paul Skenes is excited and ready for the future

At just 22 years of age, Skenes has shown talent and poise beyond his years. However, as good as things get, the youngster is sure to maintain his humility. As he told Lachimia later in the interview:

"It’s really cool to see them show up at the ballpark and root for us. It’s one of the reasons why we play the game -- to see the fans in the stands. It’s just an awesome experience."

Both so young, it is exciting to think which heights Skenes and Dunne might reach together next.