Despite being established as a generational arm, you won’t find Paul Skenes in front of cameras as frequently as the stars from the Dodgers or Yankees. It’s not like he’s afraid of leading or handling the spotlight. He has comfortably appeared on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and even “The Pat McAfee Show.” In fact, in a GQ quiz with his girlfriend, Livvy, Skenes admitted he doesn’t have Instagram on his phone. He doesn’t let fame consume him, and it’s what sets him apart from young phenoms in the league. It explains why he was nominated for a role that’s traditionally closed off to rookies.

Only six months into his major league career, Paul Skenes has already been elected to be a member of the MLB Players Association’s executive subcommittee.

The Cy Young candidate was primarily elected to help lead a union. They are facing a tough time preparing for collective bargaining negotiations in 2026. That’s because MLB is insisting on a salary cap, which players view as limiting their earnings.

Moreover, in 2024, there was an “internal tumult” within the MLBPA. It led to most of the executive members leaving. That’s when the 23-year-old gave it a thought whether he should nominate himself.

When Paul Skenes was unsure if he should join, some of the players came up to him about a nomination. Rightfully so, they viewed him as a “bridge” between the younger players and the older veterans.

The members who had negotiated the active CBA never included any major leaguer who had less than six MLB seasons to his name. Skenes’ two-year term on the union will be inclusive of all the preparations and negotiations that go behind the CBA. Both MLB and MLBPA view it as the most important negotiations in years.

Speaking of Skenes’ stance on this, he admitted that he finds himself in a “unique spot as a young player who has established myself in the league. And that gives me a unique perspective.” So, it’s only natural to believe that the two-time All-Star is “emerging as a key part of baseball’s future,” per Chelsea Janes from the Washington Post. Around the same time as this big news, Skenes had also signed for something exclusive.

Paul Skenes signs for Memorabilia Deal

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ ace has signed a new deal with Fanatics. In a recent press conference, Fanatics revealed that they are now the sole distributor of Paul Skenes’ officially licensed memorabilia. From autographed jerseys to baseballs, hats, bats, and gloves, everything is exclusive.

What does it mean for Skenes? Apparently, now he’s one of the top athletes, like Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper, New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady, and many more who have signed with Fanatics. All under the company’s memorabilia and collectibles division, Fanatics Authentic.

Fanatics executive vice president Victor Shaffer expressed his excitement. “What makes this partnership so exciting is the perfect match between a player of Paul’s caliber. He has taken the sport by storm, and the exclusive memorabilia and collectibles to celebrate his accomplishments that will become treasured pieces by fans and collectors of all ages.” He noted in the press release. For the record, Skenes has had several top baseball cards since entering the league.

His Topps 1-1 Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card was sold for a massive $1.1 million in the auction. And now that Paul Skenes is right on track to notch his first National League Cy Young Award, his collectibles are bound to grow in value.