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Paul Skenes had an interesting way of warming up before his start on Tuesday.
Before a 1-0 win over the Cardinals, the Pirates ace was spotted talking with the team’s ground crew at PNC Park.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that he spent around 15-20 minutes chatting with the crew while they tended to the infield.
The exchange of wisdom between the two individuals proved beneficial, with the player delivering an impressive performance by pitching five innings without conceding any runs, ultimately contributing to Pittsburgh’s win.
After the game, Skenes said he hung out with the grounds crew because he was bored, but he did add that he’d cut grass professionally after retirement from baseball, the Post-Gazette reported.
But for the 23-year-old starter, retirement should be far away. Once again, the young ace is a candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.
As a rookie last season, he was a nominee for the award, losing out to Braves ace Chris Sale.
Even though Skenes could not bring home the award, he still had a fantastic season by winning the NL Rookie of the Year and starting the All-Star Game for the senior circuit.
In all, he had a record of 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP.
This season, although he has a 4-7 record, his other numbers remain elite, including an NL-best 2.03 ERA.
Despite another stellar Skenes season, the Pirates’ offense has ranked toward the bottom of the league, hitting the second-fewest home runs in MLB and compiling the seventh-lowest batting average.
The Pirates sit last in the NL Central with a record of 38-50.