Skenes’ Monday stop at Little League sparks total awe

Paul Skenes drove past a Little League field in Wexford, paused at Ingomar Franklin Park to watch practice, and two hours later left 10- to 12-year-olds in a frenzy of autographs and catch—while one young fan struggled to sleep after meeting his idol.

When Paul Skenes pulled off Perry Highway in Wexford, Pa., just past seven o’clock on Monday night, the lights were still on at Vestal Field in Ingomar Franklin Park.

He made his way down to a park bench to watch practice.

At first, it was quiet. Then a few kids and parents noticed who he was, and the scene changed fast—Skenes was quickly swarmed. Two hours later, he had signed countless autographs, posed for photographs, and played catch with numerous young players.

“It seeing the smiles on the boys’ faces was just unbelievable,” said Eddie Dubis, an Ingomar coach and a member of the board of directors who was in attendance. “They were totally starstruck, in awe of what happened.”

The Ingomar team is made up of 10- to 12-year-olds. They had just wrapped up its rec season and were running a typical Monday night practice, preparing for multiple summer tournaments.

Then the word spread that Skenes was there. Practice abruptly ended, and everyone fixated on the Pirates superstar pitcher.

Ingomar Franklin Park Little League president Chris Greco wasn’t at the field at first—he was away for work in New York City. But his family was there. Greco’s three boys and his wife were watching when it turned into something closer to a moment than a routine practice.

Greco received a text from another father in attendance. Later that night, he spoke with his youngest son, 10-year-old Anthony. Greco said Anthony was “flabbergasted” at meeting his idol, struggling to put words to what happened—so badly that Greco knew his son would have a hard time sleeping.

Anthony isn’t just casually interested in the sport. Like many young baseball fans in the Pittsburgh region, he wears Skenes’ jersey to every Pirates game and asks for signed memorabilia of his favorite player at every birthday and holiday.

Greco also said the Little League scene has shifted this year. He said more kids played Little League baseball for Ingomar in 2026 than any other year he’d seen, and he credits the correlation directly to Skenes’ stardom and the Pirates fielding an exciting team.

“To the kids here in Pittsburgh, he’s the biggest thing in baseball by far. He is baseball,” Greco said.

Greco and the Ingomar organization want the connection to last beyond one unexpected night. They plan to make Skenes a customized Ingomar jersey and send a care package over with more gear from the organization. The Little League is run solely by volunteer parents like Greco and Dubis.

For Skenes, the stop was described as a simple decision.

Dubis said Skenes told him the reason was personal: “He just said he loves baseball, he’s a baseball nut, he loves everything about the game, and he remembers being that age, and how special Little League baseball was to him when he was that age.”

After Skenes finished his rounds, Dubis said the coaches offered him a beer for his time. Skenes declined.

“‘Oh no, I can’t,’” Skenes told the coaches. “‘I’m pitching against the Dodgers tomorrow.’”

And even with the schedule waiting the next day, Monday night at Vestal Field had already become a story the kids will carry for a long time—autograph books filling up, gloves out for catch, and one 10-year-old still trying to find words for what happened.

Paul Skenes Pittsburgh Pirates Little League Ingomar Franklin Park Vestal Field Wexford Eddie Dubis Chris Greco Anthony Dodgers