Pirates Dragged Into Trolling After Paul Skenes’ Unexpected Post-MLB Career Reveal

It began with a casual moment most fans would have missed, until social media lit the fire. Ahead of the Pirates’ clash with the Cardinals, Paul Skenes was spotted lingering around the outfield. But he was not warming up or doing media rounds. He was blending in with the grounds crew, chatting like one of them as they groomed the PNC Park turf.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Noah Hiles posted, “Paul Skenes looks to have joined the Pirates grounds crew. He’s been out there, chopping it up with the boys for a good 15–20 minutes now.” The internet did not need more than that.

And just when you thought it was a simple, lighthearted pregame moment, the quote that followed flipped the tone abruptly. Postgame, Skenes casually confessed he was bored and even added he would love to “cut grass professionally” once his baseball days were over. From there, it took less than an hour for fans to do what they can do best: turn the Pirates into the punchline. Twitter was bombarded with memes suggesting Skenes had already made future job plans because “the Pirates won’t win him a ring.” While Skenes was mowing down Cardinals hitters on the mound, fans were busy mowing the Bucs with funny memes. 

The irony, of course, is that the 23-year-old is one of the best young pitchers in baseball this season. His performance that very night was proof: five shutout innings, five strikeouts, and a single walk in a 1-0 Pirates win. It was the team’s fifth straight forward victory, and Skenes’ ERA remained a rock-solid 2.03 over 111 innings with 115 strikeouts. Yet none of those numbers could protect Don Kelly’s team from becoming internet torture, thanks to one unexpected quote about lawn care. 

Still, there is something lovable about it all. In a league filled with tightly controlled media speak and rehearsed answers, Skenes’ honesty was refreshingly human. He was not trying to stir anything up, just being himself. But in the world of sports fandom, even a passing comment can spark fire, and in this case, drag a whole franchise along for the horse ride.

Fans go full roast mode as Paul Skenes sparks unexpected internet meltdown

The moment Paul Skenes mentioned a possible future in landscaping, fans did not just hold back their laughter; they went all in on the trolling. One X user cracked, “It has to be more rewarding than playing for the Pirates,” echoing a sentiment that has been building for months. Despite Skenes’ 2.03 ERA and dominance on the mound, the Pirates have regularly failed to surround him with a competitive roster. Trade speculation is already flowing in the air, and many fans feel Pittsburgh is on track to waste yet another generational star.

That frustration was magnified when another fan fired off, “Grounds crew has more wins,” a brutal witticism about Pittsburgh’s 37-50 record. Before July, the bullpen had sunk to 32-50 and ranked third-worst in MLB. Even with a recent five-game win streak, the damage to their season and public perception was done. The Pirates sit well behind the NL Central-leading Cubs and far outside Wild Card range. In that context, the trolling does not just seem like casual banter; it feels like a digital intervention.

Then came the short, poisonous punchlines. “Bro just bored at this point,” one fan posted, summing up the situation in six words. And honestly, it tracks. A pitcher like Skenes, who should be headlining playoff races, was instead spending his pregame rotation talking grass and chatting up the field crew. It is very funny on the surface, but there is a brewing question behind the humor: Is boredom just the beginning of bigger frustration?

That possibility gained traction with the post, “He’s bored, send him to Chicago!” The Cubs, currently holding a 50-35 record, are everything the Pirates are not: competitive, consistent, and actively trying to win now. Given their strong rotation and hungry lineup, fans fantasizing about Skenes in a Cubs uniform were not just trolling; they were pitching ideas. The contrast between the two franchises only amplifies Pittsburgh’s situation: they have an ace, but no clear plan to support him.

Finally, nothing could stop Yankees fans from joining the party. “Good news for Yankees fans is that we have the best grounds crew in all of baseball. Even do the YMCA. Can’t wait to have ya, Pauly.” It was classic Bronx sarcasm, mixing charm with poaching energy. But the underlying truth hit hard: even non-NL fans are poking jokes at the Pirates’ inability to build around Skenes. When landscaping jokes turn into low-key recruitment pitches, it is not just funny anymore; it is a warning sign.

Paul Skenes’ harmless moment with the grounds crew suddenly spun into a lightning rod for frustration aimed squarely at the Pirates’ front office. The trolling may be entertaining, but the message behind it is obvious: fans see the clock ticking. If Pittsburgh does not step up soon, this highlighted moment could become the start of a much larger problem.

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