BRADENTON, Fla. -- When Paul Skenes takes the mound for Team USA on Sunday night in Miami, millions will watch the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner face a stacked Dominican Republic lineup in the World Baseball Classic semifinals (8 p.m. ET, FS1).
The “Top Gun” theme will blare over the loanDepot Park speakers. Skenes’ focus will narrow, as arguably the biggest baseball game he’s played to this point in his life unfolds.
Back in Bradenton, eyeballs will also be trained on TV screens, Skenes’ Pirates teammates rooting for their ace and watching his national profile soar.
Skenes has become a household name throughout MLB, his dominance creating comparisons to past pitching greats, but inside the Pirates clubhouse Skenes’ presence carries a different type of weight.
Skenes is a veteran trapped inside a 23-year-old’s body. He's someone who simultaneously challenges and unites teammates, a team leader the Pirates can’t help but listen to and respect.
“Guys are chasing him, striving to do what he does,” Bubba Chandler said.
“He’s the guy,” Mitch Keller added. “People follow that. And what better person to have be the guy?”
Skenes is obviously elite. That argument does not need to be made here. But what Chandler and Keller are referencing involves Skenes’ impact throughout the organization.
Entering year three of his MLB tenure, Skenes’ impact looms large … and that’s hardly a bad thing.
Skenes volunteered his services to general manager Ben Cherington this offseason to call potential free agents. His input was considered when the Pirates moved on from former pitching coach Oscar Marin and hired Bill Murphy. Manager Don Kelly welcomes Skenes' thoughts on scheduling.
It’s a unique window into how the organization operates, but Skenes holds up his end of the bargain by being unique in most everything he does.
That could involve his regimented routine or what he did this offseason, when he essentially created his own pitching lab and invited several teammates to North Palm Beach.
Hunter Barco lives nearby and was a regular at Skenes' facility, the two working out together and Barco -- who at 25 is two years older than Skenes -- trying to learn as much as possible.
“He’s a guy you want to be around,” Barco said. “He’s a workhorse on and off the field. The only thing he cares about is winning baseball games. That’s a good thing to bring into the clubhouse.”
Along with Barco, this group includes Jared Jones, Chandler, Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas (before he was traded), Thomas Harrington, Braxton Ashcraft and a few others. Skenes loves it. Thinks of it like Michael Jordan bringing the Bulls together. A way to create camaraderie but also challenge one another.
There are jokes and good-natured fun. There’s also continual amazement that Skenes is only 23. Even his closest friends have a hard time believing it.
“He’s still a kid at heart, like we all are,” Barco said. “But, yeah, very mature for what he’s been able to do at 23.”
Mlodzinski: “He’s a full-on vet."
The progression of Skenes’ leadership voice has been respectful.
Early in his career, Skenes’ let his performance do much of the talking. But over time, as his profile grows and the pitching keeps improving, Skenes has the license to say whatever he wants.
“Rightfully, it is [his clubhouse],” Mlodzinski said. “But he has the awareness to build up a little bit more each year and vocalize more. He’s already done that.”
A natural pivot point exists this season, too. With Andrew McCutchen now in Texas and the Pirates making no secret about their postseason goals, Skenes has endless leadership runway.
Position players were acquired to help with that stuff, but let's be honest: This is Skenes’ team. His voice matters. All eyes are on him. And the most impressive part revolves around Skenes' metronomic consistency and the example he sets without saying a word.
“He’s the same guy every day and someone you can count on,” Chandler said. “That’s something we talk about as pitchers -- being accountable, being consistent. When your number is called, you’re ready.
"He’s consistent at an elite level.”
It’s why Skenes has been so easy to follow for the Pirates’ younger pitchers, Uncle Paul walking that line between friend and leader … but also not being overbearing or suffocating.
He’s a regular guy, a great teammate. But when it comes to work, how he carries himself or competes, it’s worth every bit of the attention and adulation he receives.
"He’s taken a lot of our younger guys under his wing and helped them out," Mlodzinski said. "But I think there’s also a lot of stuff behind the scenes that I don’t even know about. I’m sure he 100% has some say on what we’re wearing on the plane or what travel days look like.
"But everybody ultimately trusts him. He’s second to none in terms of preparation and making sure he’s in the best position to succeed. He’s no doubt our leader.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and via X @JMackey_PGH.