"Baseball equivalent of Taylor Swift’s boyfriend" - Fans react as Tigers broadcasters compare social media reach of Paul Skenes & Olivia Dunne
Love it or hate it, there's no escaping the coverage of the relationship between Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne. The Pittsburgh Pirates' top pitching prospect and the star gymnast have been in a high-profile relationship since the pair were student-athletes at Louisiana State University.
Since Paul Skenes was selected with the first-overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, there has been a seemingly endless supply of coverage regarding him and his girlfriend Olivia Dunne.
The beautiful gymnast and influencer has a massive social media following, something that has likely brought more eyes to Skenes' pitching performances for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The young couple's relationship was on display yet again during Wednesday afternoon's matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers. The Bally Sports broadcast shared an image comparing the social media statistics of both Skenes and Dunne, something that annoyed fans.
The Bally Sports crew includes former Tampa Bay Rays slugger Carlos Pena, as well as reporters Johnny Kane and Trevor Thomas.
The three gentlemen discussed the couple, but frustrated fans posted online hoping that it would not become the MLB's version of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
It's unlikely that the Skenes/Dunne relationship will reach the heights of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift, given the sheer volume of Swift's fanbase.
Nevertheless, Olivia Dunne's stardom on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram could certainly help make the Pittsburgh Pirates gain hundreds of new followers.
Paul Skenes has more than lived up his hype since entering the MLB
Although some may know Skenes as Olivia Dunne's boyfriend, for baseball fans, he's considered the most promising pitching prospect since Washington Nationals legend Stephen Strasburg. The former LSU star pitcher was taken with the top pick of the 2023 MLB Draft and has done nothing but live up to the hype placed upon him.
Since making his MLB debut earlier this month, the young pitcher has been excellent for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Heading into Wednesday's action, Skenes has posted an impressive 2.25 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 16.0 innings of work. If he can remain healthy, he has all the tools to become a true superstar.