How did Skenes repay HS mentor? By striking him out in 1st MLB showdown

PITTSBURGH -- Before reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and Cardinals outfielder Nathan Church were preparing to face off against each other in the big leagues on Thursday afternoon at PNC Park, the two shared a locker room on a much smaller stage.

It just might not have been as posh as the clubhouses the players find themselves using today.

Church stepped into the box against Skenes to lead off the second inning on Thursday after Skenes had a rocky first frame that saw him give up three runs on a pair of homers. But the Bucs ace got the better of Church in their first meeting, striking him out on a changeup.

Church was a junior at El Toro High School in Lake Forest, Calif., when a young Skenes entered the program as a freshman. Church was committed to UC Irvine at the time, a big deal to Skenes. A year later, the two played together for a season when Skenes was a sophomore and Church was a senior.

Church hit .367 as a senior for El Toro before heading off to the collegiate ranks.

“He was like the veteran presence on the team,” Skenes told SNY’s Dani Wexelman. “Kind of showing us the ropes on how to be a high schooler. We played together my sophomore year. Good player; still is.”

Skenes remembered Church hitting a walk-off against La Mirada High School, a school located just 40 minutes up the road. The starting pitcher that game? Jared Jones, Skenes’ current Pirates teammate.

Church went on to get drafted in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. In his second big league season, he entered Thursday batting .238 with five home runs and 13 RBIs. Skenes came in with a 4-1 record and a 2.48 ERA in six starts.

“Church was a good player and a good dude. He wasn't like a jerk to all the underclassmen,” Skenes joked. “It’s cool to see him now.”