Olivia Dunne has made her boyfriend TikTok and Instagram official, but fans still want more information about the guy.
The champion Lousiana State University gymnast has been going out with Paul Skenes for months now, and her followers' curiosity continues to grow.
They may be in for a treat because Skenes might become a bigger name than Dunne in the years to come.
1. Skenes is from LSU, too.
Dunne and Skenes probably identified with each other as the latter was a student-athlete, too, at LSU.
He first played for the Wareham Gatemen, where he got the distinction of best two-way player by winning the John Olerud Award.
He then transferred to LSU in 2022, where he broke Ben McDonald's SEC and LSU record for strikeouts in a single season with 203.
Proximity to Dunne is now at play.
2. He is Pittsburgh Pirates' no. 1 draft pick in 2023.
The baseball world very much knows the guy. He could be the next big thing in MLB after getting drafted as the Pirates' No. 1 overall draft pick this year.
The 21-year-old pitcher is expected to make his professional debut in 2024.
"We're excited and encouraged by the positive things Paul has been able to accomplish in his short time in the Pirates organization," general manager Ben Cherington said in September.
"He's checked all of the boxes we aimed for him to check during the 2023 season. The goal now is to focus on a complete offseason in preparation for his first full professional year in 2024."
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3. He still wants to serve in the Air Force Academy.
Before LSU, he was with the Air Force Falcons and played one season there.
Although the relationship was short-lived, Skenes credits the academy for things he gained in his career. He is not planning to return to Falcons as an athlete but expressed a desire to serve in the Air Force if permitted.
"I would say serving is still in the picture because that's something that you can start doing when you're 40, 50," he said. "But I think, to be honest, you only get one shot at baseball, and so that's my goal right now."
4. He is a philanthropist.
Skenes has yet to have a huge payday in the MLB, but philanthropy has been on his mind since stepping foot in the Air Force.
His heart is especially close to the military, to whom he pledged $10 to Folds of Honor for each strikeout during his last LSU season.
"All who wear, or have worn, our country's military uniforms have made tremendous sacrifices for our great nation," Skenes wrote on his project's page.
"An unfortunate few bear the physical or mental scars of war or have made the ultimate sacrifice."
5. He appreciates Dunne being famous like him.
Rich and famous people gravitate towards each other. Skenes is just starting, and he appreciates that Dunne, the more popular one at the moment, is there to help him navigate the celebrity life.
"She does get it," he said while discussing fans who ask for autographs and pictures.
"I do wish she could come to a baseball game and just enjoy it. It does irk me. I don't have any control over it. She really doesn't either. I'm sure it'll get better as I go up levels, but that's something I want for her."
Related article: Olivia Dunne Unleashes 4-Word Clapback to NY Times Article
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