{"id":18327,"date":"2024-05-30T11:15:46","date_gmt":"2024-05-30T15:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=18327"},"modified":"2024-05-30T11:15:46","modified_gmt":"2024-05-30T15:15:46","slug":"pirates-pitcher-paul-skenes-plans-to-serve-country-in-military-after-mlb-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2024\/05\/pirates-pitcher-paul-skenes-plans-to-serve-country-in-military-after-mlb-career.html","title":{"rendered":"Pirates Pitcher Paul Skenes Plans to Serve Country in Military After MLB Career"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It seems Pittsburgh Pirates phenom starter Paul Skenes already knows what he wants to do when his pitching days are over in the MLB. USA Today Sports\u2019<\/em> Bob Nightengale wrote a feature on Skenes, where he spoke with his former college baseball coach while he spent his first two seasons at the Air Force Academy. Mike Kazlausky told Nightengale that he stays in contact with Skenes, and they\u2019ve discussed how serving his country is something Skenes plans on doing once his MLB career comes to an end.<\/p>\n

Kazlausky told Nightengale, \u201cHe will serve his country in some manner moving forward. It\u2019s just going to be a matter of when. Paul and I have spoken about that piece. We\u2019ll get him back in the military once his professional playing days are over.\u00a0It\u2019s a big deal for Paul to be able to serve our country.\u201d Nightengale\u2019s feature revolved around service academies\u2019 professional sports policies, which would have had Skenes serving five years in the Air Force had he remained in the Academy beyond two years. Only after serving his time would Skenes be allowed to pursue his MLB dreams.<\/p>\n

Skenes opted to transfer to\u00a0LSU instead, where his play on the mound only got better, and he became the eventual No. 1 pick by the Pirates last year. Skenes owned a 1.69 ERA and 0.75 WHIP with the Tigers during their College World Series-winning season last year, which saw him as the tournament\u2019s Most Outstanding Player and college baseball\u2019s National Pitcher of the Year. It was a decision that certainly worked out for the fireball-throwing right-hander, who made quick work of his minor-league opponents this year before the Pirates finally called him up for his big-league debut.<\/p>\n