CHICAGO — Paul Skenes learned plenty during his sole season at LSU.
The Pirates’ prized right-hander furthered his repertoire, transformed his body and in turn became a No. 1 overall pick. While residing in Baton Rouge, La., Skenes also developed a curiosity toward grilling various meats, a familiar sight during tailgates at the Tigers’ home football games.
Although Skenes, who picked up his first major league win in his second career start Friday against the Cubs, striking out 11 over six no-hit innings while walking one, admittedly doesn’t have many hobbies outside of baseball, MLB’s top pitching prospect appreciates any chance he gets to try his hand at grilling.
“That’s one thing for me that I look forward to — an off day, a day game, that kind of thing,” Skenes told the Post-Gazette. “That’s one thing that I really enjoy to do, whatever it is. Usually, it’s steaks.
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“But yeah, doesn’t happen too often, so I relish the opportunity to do it.”
Skenes, who made his MLB debut last Saturday, owns two Traeger grills, but neither has made it to Pittsburgh yet. A larger one is still at home in Southern California, and a smaller version was with Skenes in Indianapolis at the time of his promotion from Triple-A. He hopes to get that more portable grill to Pittsburgh soon.
Skenes always enjoyed cooking with his mother, Karen, while growing up in Lake Forest, Calif., but he didn’t grill all that often as a child. It was a friend of Skenes’ owning a grill that recently gave him the idea to get into it more seriously.
It’s a wide range of meals that Skenes prepares when he’s got the grill at his disposal, but the go-to for the 6-foot-6, 235-pounder is steak. Salmon and sausage are easy ones for Skenes, who has also cooked up chicken wings, ribs and more.
This winter in Florida, he and his roommate even gave scallops a shot because the grill comes complete with a cast iron.
“Kind of done it all, a little bit,” Skenes said. “Gonna branch out a little bit more, too.”
As much as grilling is a pastime for Skenes, it also stems from a commitment to keeping himself in the best shape possible. When the Pirates are on a game schedule, Skenes estimates his caloric intake to be right around 3,000.
On his start days, Skenes thinks he’s closer to 4,000 calories. That includes shots of honey to keep his energy up throughout his outings.
Skenes eats about four meals per day and is strict about avoiding snacks at all costs.
“I know what to eat as I look at it,” Skenes said.
During the Pirates’ recent road trip to Milwaukee, Skenes chatted with Martin Perez about the importance of paying attention to one’s physique. The veteran left-hander with 13 seasons of MLB experience conveyed a familiar message to Skenes.
“It’s an investment,” Skenes said. “Take care of yourself and take care of your body, and your body will take care of you. That’s kind of what [Perez] told me, and he’s not the only one. I’ve heard that from a lot of people.”
Evidenced by going No. 1 overall last July, Skenes has already taken such advice to heart. The 21-year-old has reaped the rewards of compounding a healthy diet with intentional work in the weight room.
Skenes has packed on plenty of pounds — most of them dense in muscle — to his frame over the last year and a half. That’s come in conjunction with Skenes starting to lift more regularly. He’s diligent about his arm care, too, with a repeatable routine before bullpens and starts.
Of course, Skenes was already throwing in the mid-90s whenever he toed the rubber at Air Force a couple seasons ago. But under the direction of coaches like Jay and Wes Johnson at LSU, Skenes took his velocity to another level, making him one of the most coveted prospects in last year’s draft.
By no means is Skenes now entrenched in the Pirates starting rotation solely because he knows his way around a grill. The backstory behind that intrigue, though, stems from both a fascination and understanding of why eating right can pay serious dividends.
“I’ve seen the benefits of what can really happen as you get stronger and you take care of yourself,” Skenes said. “That’s always been a priority for me.”
