Paul Skenes has spent the last year-plus carving up big league hitters. But his most surprising performance yet might have come with a hot dog in his hand.
The Pirates ace and former No. 1 overall pick starred in a recent commercial for Sheetz, the Mid-Atlantic convenience store chain, promoting what they’re calling the “Big Glizzy” hot dog. And it wasn’t just a quick cameo. The spot runs long by ad standards, with Skenes going through multiple scenes and actually showing some personality — something fans don’t always get to see from him in postgame interviews.
His girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, certainly noticed. The former LSU gymnastics star and social media powerhouse posted a one-line review that was hard to miss.
“Just give him the Oscar,” Dunne wrote.
It’s a funny bit, sure, but it also highlights how Skenes has quietly become one of the more marketable young players in baseball. He’s got the stuff — a 100 mph fastball and a wicked splinker that makes hitters look silly — and now he’s got the commercial reel to match. The monotone delivery he’s known for in interviews actually worked in his favor here. He played it straight, and it landed.
Skenes keeps dealing on the mound
All of this would be a fun sideshow if Skenes weren’t also backing it up every fifth day. He’s been the Pirates’ best player by a wide margin, putting up numbers that put him right in the middle of the Cy Young conversation as the season hits its halfway point. He’s striking out batters at an elite rate, limiting hard contact and generally looking like the generational arm Pittsburgh hoped it was getting when it took him first overall in 2023.
The team around him hasn’t been as consistent. The Pirates dropped to 39-40 heading into Wednesday’s game against the Mariners, a frustrating spot after a stronger start had fans dreaming of a playoff push. They’ve cooled off, and the offense has gone quiet too often. But Skenes keeps giving them a chance.
He’s also a near-lock for the All-Star Game next month in Philadelphia. That’ll be another big stage for a guy who seems increasingly comfortable in the spotlight — even if he doesn’t always look like it in front of a microphone.
As for whether this Sheetz spot leads to more endorsement work? Hard to say. But if Livvy Dunne is running his PR campaign, he’s in good hands. The Oscar jokes aside, Skenes has a genuine shot at becoming one of baseball’s faces if he keeps pitching like this and keeps showing he can be a little fun off the mound, too.
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