The pregame routine is usually quiet, with players stretching, some chatting, and pitchers tossing in rhythm. But when Paul Skenes watches batting practice and sees one particular teammate take the cage, everything changes. It’s not just the sound of the bat or the distance the ball travels. It’s the way the energy shifts. Suddenly, it feels like the actual show has started, before the first pitch.

That teammate is 26-year-old Oneil Cruz. Towering at 6-foot-7 with a swing as violent as it is fluid, Cruz has long been known for freakish raw power. Now, with his name officially confirmed as a participant in the 2025 Home Run Derby, the baseball world is finally getting a full-stage glimpse at what Pirates insiders have known all along: Cruz doesn’t just hit baseballs. He launches them into orbit.

“I’m as excited for that (Oneil Cruz in the Derby) as I am for the actual All-Star Game,” Skenes said on MLB Network Radio. “His batting practice is the most impressive I’ve ever seen in my life.”

It’s pure admiration. And Paul Skenes isn’t just throwing around clichés. This is a pitcher who faces the league’s best, who knows what true power looks like, and he’s still blown away by Cruz’s daily displays. “He misses balls and they still land in the second deck,” he added. “I think he hit a ball over the Chop House when we were in Atlanta last year.”

For Cruz, this Derby appearance isn’t just about showmanship, it’s a shot at redemption. Despite flashes of brilliance this season, the slugger didn’t earn an All-Star nod, sparking debate across the fanbase. But the Derby? That’s his proving ground. And with teammates like Skenes backing him this boldly, the message is clear: don’t underestimate what’s coming.

The Pirates haven’t had many national moments in recent years, but Skenes and Cruz are changing that narrative. One on the mound, the other in the box, they represent the club’s rising identity. And if Cruz does what Paul Skenes believes he can, the Chop House may not be the last landmark he clears this month.

One thing’s for sure: the rest of the league might want to pay attention to Pittsburgh’s power duo because the ball, and the bar, just keep going higher.

Paul Skenes stays untouchable as trade chatter heats up

As the MLB trade deadline looms, the Pittsburgh Pirates are once again staring down a familiar path, selling off talent to reset the cycle. With a 38–53 record and little momentum to speak of, the roster could soon look very different. But amidst the expected departures, one name isn’t going anywhere: Paul Skenes. Despite the Pirates’ struggles, their young ace remains firmly off-limits. And according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, that’s not changing anytime soon.

“Twenty-nine other teams would love to have Paul Skenes in their rotation,” Passan said on SportsCenter, “but the only team that’s going to have him [beyond July] is the Pittsburgh Pirates.” The message was clear: Skenes is untouchable. While names like Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds, and David Bednar are already being floated in trade talks, Pittsburgh is building around the one piece they refuse to part with. And honestly, how could they? Skenes owns a 1.94 ERA and 125 strikeouts this season, numbers that jump off the page, even if his win-loss record doesn’t (thanks to a lack of run support).

The NL Rookie of the Year has quickly proven his worth in 249 innings for the Pirates. Exceeding their expectations as a standout performer and a guiding light in a season. While Pittsburgh braces for yet another roster reshuffle, Skenes stands alone as the foundation. Call it loyalty, call it necessity, but make no mistake: Paul Skenes isn’t going anywhere.

And for a fanbase desperate for a long-term anchor, that’s a rare and welcome promise.