Olivia Dunne beams alongside Paul Skenes during Tokyo getaway after his demanding season
Dunne shared a glimpse of her time in Japan, with the Pirates ace appearing in one of her posts
O livia Dunne gave fans a glimpse of her Tokyo trip on Instagram Stories, and Paul Skenes made an appearance in one of the updates . The couple looked relaxed and all smiles as they enjoyed time away from the baseball season.
The snapshots offered a personal moment from the couple’s time in Japan . Dunne often shares pieces of her travels and everyday life with her followers, while Skenes usually keeps a lower profile away from the mound.
Skenes reached a milestone after a challenging season
The getaway follows a demanding year for the Pirates ace. Skenes finished the 2026 season with a 10-11 record and a 3.82 ERA, but he also struck out 200 batters across 32 starts and 174⅓ innings. He became the first Pirates starter since Bob Veale in 1964–66 to record at least 200 strikeouts in consecutive seasons.
Skenes reached the milestone in his final start, against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 24. He allowed one run over 6⅓ innings, struck out eight and got his 200th strikeout before leaving with the score tied. “It was a grind,” he said afterward, adding that the season did not match the standard he had set for himself.
That standard was high after his 2025 campaign, when he won the National League Cy Young Award unanimously. He also earned All-Star selections in each of his first three MLB seasons, from 2024 through 2026.
Dunne was there for the final-start milestone. She shared the moment on her Instagram Story and celebrated Skenes’ 200th strikeout. Days earlier, she had posted a look back at the season, writing, “Long season, I gave it my all.”
The Tokyo posts shift the focus from the pressure of the season to time together away from the ballpark. Dunne and Skenes first connected at LSU, and she has supported him throughout his rise from college standout to Pirates ace.
