Skenes joins Aaron Judge in baseball’s premiere international event, which will be held in March 2026

NEW YORK — The Pirates’ best player intends to showcase his talent on an international stage.

In an appearance on MLB Network on Tuesday, Pirates ace Paul Skenes announced his commitment to Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

“When I was coming through high school, the thing that I thought I was going to be doing right now was flying jets rather than playing in Major League Baseball stadiums against the best of the best,” Skenes said on the broadcast. “I’ve gotten the chance to wear USA across my chest a couple times, gotten to wear it in a couple of different fashions — obviously in camo and obviously in a baseball uniform. This is one thing, as a fan of the game, watching the previous World Baseball Classics that I was like, ‘If I ever get the chance to do this, I’m never saying no.’ ”

Skenes becomes the second prominent player to commit to the American team. Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was announced as the team’s captain last month. The Americans are looking to return to the World Baseball Classic championship game, where they lost to Team Japan in 2023.

Skenes, 22, was always considered a likely participant in the event. He participated for two collegiate national teams in 2021 and 2022, both while he was enrolled at the Air Force Academy. He’s never shied from his patriotic side, both from his time in the Air Force and his charity work with veterans and the Gary Sinise Foundation.

“There’s no bigger stage than this,” Skenes told reporters in the visitor’s clubhouse at Citi Field on Tuesday. “ … There’s no greater USA team to play on than this one and represent the nation on the biggest stage.”

The World Baseball Classic has struggled to convince top pitchers to participate. The World Baseball Classic is held during spring training, when pitchers are ramping up for a long major league season. Starting pitchers often elect to focus on the season ahead instead of risking health concerns in an international tournament. For example, with the 2023 team, longtime Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw opted out after back issues forced him to miss games in 2022, while former Pirate pitcher Tyler Glasnow wanted to participate, but was not allowed to by his then-team, the Rays.

Skenes said he’s not concerned about it and by announcing his commitment thinks some other top arms will follow his lead.

“I’m in,” Skenes said. “I’m not worried about any of that stuff. And I think, from what I’ve heard, I think some other guys are, too.”

The Pirates did have some representation on the 2023 squad, as reliever David Bednar pitched for the Americans. He appeared in four games, allowing one run in four innings and earning a win. Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison played in the 2017 tournament.

Skenes will be penciled in as the ace on the American squad. The tournament will be held from March 5, 2026 – March 17, 2026. Team USA is in Pool B and will face Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston. The top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals. The semifinals and championship will be held in Miami.

Skenes is 14-7 in just over a year in the majors with a 2.16 ERA. He’s 3-4 this season with a 2.63 ERA, striking out 53 batters in 54⅔ innings. He’s started an All Star Game and is on track to pitch in another this year, but he’s looking forward to a bigger, international stage.

“I’ll do whatever I have to do to win gold,” Skenes said.