It Is Official: Paul Skenes And Olivia Dunne Are Dating
Confirmed now: Paul Skenes and Olivia Dunne are indeed in a romantic relationship.
Skenes, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, openly acknowledged the speculated romance during a recent conversation with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Their paths crossed thanks to an introduction by Skenes’ closest friend, who happens to be involved with Elena Marenas, Dunne’s fellow gymnast from LSU and roommate.
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Skenes said, “Just a small-world type of thing,” about his relationship with the gymnast.
#LivvyDunne is in Bradenton and sporting a Pirates hat after Paul Skenes is assigned to FCL Pirates in Bradenton 👀 #Pirates #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/EfznHcnzK4
— Renegade Tyler (@RenegadeTyler) July 29, 2023
Speculation about a romantic connection between Skenes and Dunne ignited in the previous month when the 20-year-old social media influencer shared a snapshot of herself donning a Pirates cap while in Bradenton, Florida. The photo was accentuated by a Marucci black baseball glove positioned in the background.
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The murmurs gained momentum when Dunne was in attendance during Skenes’ debut with the Bradenton Marauders, the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With their relationship now acknowledged, Skenes and Dunne swiftly ascend to the ranks of highly visible couples within the sports realm.
Dunne, who garnered social media prominence amid the pandemic by showcasing her gymnastic talents through TikTok videos, is presently the highest-earning female athlete according to NCAA records. She boasts an impressive following of over 12 million across TikTok and Instagram platforms combined.
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Skenes, the former standout pitcher at LSU, has already solidified his position as the foremost pitching prospect in baseball. His signing out of the draft amounted to a record-breaking $9.2 million just last month.
The parallel nature of their fame has, as Skenes mentioned, played a role in fostering a stronger bond between them.
“It’s nice, for sure,” Skenes said, per the Post-Gazette. “It can be a pain in the butt sometimes, to be honest, in terms of actually going somewhere. If one of us went out in Baton Rouge [La.] by ourselves, there’s probably gonna be someone there asking for something — picture, autograph, whatever.
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“It’s nice to be able to have that conversation. She does get it. 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.”
During Tuesday’s match in Bradenton, the couple experienced a glimpse of their newfound prominence. Dunne found herself relocating from her original seats behind the home plate to the broadcast booth due to the considerable fan attention she attracted.
