WATCH: Paul Skenes swaps jersey with Steelers' T.J. Watt in wholesome moment for Pittsburgh sports
Pirates ace rookie Paul Skenes was part of an iconic all-Pittsburgh sports moment as he met pass rusher T.J. Watt in the Steelers' facility. Both stars also exchanged souvenirs to take home.
While Skenes' popularity has skyrocketed among Pittsburgh fans after he made his MLB debut in May, the linebacker has remained loyal to the city since he was picked in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Watt first gave his game-worn, signed No. 90 signature black-and-gold Steelers jersey. Skenes too gave his jersey to the pass rusher as the two went on to pose for a click.
“Looks like it’ll fit,” Watt told Skenes.
“Oh yeah, I’ll wear that,” Skenes replied.
“I gotta get some Pirates’ s--- at some point,” Watt said.
Paul Skenes is almost at the end of his rookie year with the Pirates, who are not in contention to make the postseason this fall. The All-Star rookie is the frontrunner for NL Rookie of the Year, boasting a 2.10 ERA across 20 starts.
On the other hand, the NFL season is just getting started as T.J. Watt and the Steelers won their first game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. Watt had four tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery in that game.
Paul Skenes receives advice from Hall of Famer regarding his pitching
What makes Paul Skenes so intimidating is his variety of pitches and his ability to bring out the best in each of them most of the time. However, he's only been in the majors one year and hitters will have a good look at him before they face him next year.
This is why two-time Cy Young winner and Hall of Famer Tom Glavine advises him to make adjustments and not get carried away thinking his stuff will work as time passes by.
"Everybody has to make adjustments, right? Your stuff is only going to carry you so far, and stuff is great. And it’s a nice asset to have, but it’s only going to carry you so far," Glavine told Fox Sports concerning Paul Skenes' pitching.
A distinguished pitcher himself, Glavine's words hold value. Skenes may very well take this advice into consideration and strive to consistently improve.