PHILADELPHIA — Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft are both good at pitching. That much was established long ago and reaffirmed by their trip to the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
But along with being talented, they’re also smart, insightful and sneaky funny.
While tackling plenty of serious topics during formal media availability prior to Monday’s Home Run Derby, Skenes and Ashcraft delivered several responses that went beyond first-half evaluations or what this experience means to them.
In other words, they had some fun.
Here’s a collection of those tidbits.
We learned Ashcraft’s first MLB jersey was Josh Hamilton, he signed his first autograph at the 2017 Under Armour All-American Game, and his favorite road city is probably San Diego. (Strong choice, by the way.)
Oh, and Ashcraft hates tomatoes on sandwiches.
But when someone asked Ashcraft to finish the line, “West Philadelphia born and raised” and he immediately answered with “on the playground is where I spent most of my days,” he drew a mixture of laughs and applause, a surprise indication that he’s watched “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” … or at least heard the theme song.
Ashcraft was also asked to define the Philly slang term “Jawn,” which means a thing or place the speaker can’t seem to identify.
“A Port-a-John?” Ashcraft answered, perhaps more on point than he realized. More laughs.
Skenes, meanwhile, divulged his karaoke song choice would probably be something by Toby Keith. He also mused on the debate of a baseball having 108 or 216 stitches, depending on how one counts them.
But the funniest might’ve been when Skenes was asked to cite something every clubhouse needs.
“A disco ball,” Skenes said. “We use it a lot.”
Another off-the-bat question came when Skenes was asked which teammate he’d like to have voice his PitchCom.
Skenes thought about it for several seconds before giving an honest answer … and one that doesn’t sound like the worst idea.
“Me,” he said. “You have to be convicted in your own pitches. That’s a pretty good idea. I think we should explore that.
“I’ll voice over my PitchCom. Braxton will do his. If you hear your own voice, maybe it’ll help you believe in it a little more.”
Baseball fans are certainly familiar with the 9-9-9 challenge — nine beers and nine hot dogs consumed over nine innings. Ashcraft is no different.
While he doesn’t exactly have a chance to do that when the Pirates play, Ashcraft had a little fun when he was asked whether he thought he could complete it if given the chance.
“I could easily do the beers,” Ashcraft said. “I would probably get through about five of the hot dogs and have to take a little break. Hopefully we have some long innings in there.”
Historical questions are always popular in this setting, and Ashcraft said he’d most want to face Hamilton or Barry Bonds if given the choice of anyone who’s ever played a Major League game.
How would he attack Bonds?
“I’d just try to throw him something to swing at out of the zone,” Ashcraft said. “My best pitch is my curveball. I’d just try to lean on that as hard as I could. If not, hopefully first base is open.”
When it comes to one player past or present he’d want to play with, Ashcraft made an expected, appropriate choice for someone who grew up a Rangers fan.
“Probably Nolan Ryan,” Ashcraft said. “The way he pitched was, ‘Here’s my best stuff right now. Get in the box and let’s go.’
“I’ve tried to adopt that in a way. Obviously not the head-hunting stuff the game demanded back then. But being on the mound and controlling the pace of the game.”
The last fun topic they both discussed involved walkup music.
Skenes said the reason he uses “Cue Country Roads” is because Charles Wesley Godwin took an interest in his career early on and texted him. Godwin is also a West Virginia guy, and Skenes really likes the song.
As for his second-favorite Pirates walkup song, Skenes begrudgingly went with Ashcraft’s use of “Long Hot Summer Day” by the Turnpike Troubadours.
Like most things about him, Ashcraft’s reasoning was simple.
“Growing up I’ve always been a Troubadours fan,” Ashcraft said. “That’s been my favorite song for a long time. I remember sitting on a boat and listening to that song. It’s kind of a tribute to where I come from and the people I grew up with.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.