Livvy Dunne surprises Paul Skenes with gift to celebrate his All-Star selection

Paul Skenes was selected to the MLB All-Star team on Sunday and his girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, couldn’t have been more proud. A photo emerged on X of the celebration that Dunne had planned for Skenes, which included pizza, champagne and balloons that spelt out “All Star.”

Skenes and Dunne met when both were athletes at LSU. He starred on the baseball team while she was on the gymnastics team as Skenes led the Tigers to a College World Series title in 2023. He was then selected No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Livvy Dunne went all out for Paul Skenes to celebrate his first nod to the All-Star game of his young career, how can you not love this 🥹 pic.twitter.com/0OfQXknhhv

— The Bucco Beat (@TheBuccoBeat) July 7, 2024

Skenes became the first No. 1 overall pick in MLB history to become an All-Star the following season. He’ll he’ll represent the National League and the Pirates in Arlington, Texas for the 2024 All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16 at Globe Life Field among a star-studded lineup.

Dunne still has one more year of eligibility remaining to return to LSU for a fifth season but has yet to decide whether she will use it. She is No. 2 among all college athletes with a $3.9 million NIL valuation according to On3.

Regardless of what she decides, it’s clear both Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes will continue to support each other in all of their endeavors as both have found plenty of success early on.

More on Paul Skenes’ rookie season, All-Star selection

Skenes has had an impressive rookie season with the Pittsburgh Pirates after the former No. 1 overall pick was called up to the major leagues in May.

Since his call up, Skenes has appeared and started in 10 games for Pittsburgh with an impressive 5-0 record on the mound. Posting a 2.12 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP so far in his rookie season with 78 strikeouts and just 12 base on balls in his 59.1 innings pitched. Known for his 100+ mile per hour fastball that’s given hitters problems in the batter’s box this season.

Skenes spent the first two seasons of his college career at Air Force where he was named a two-time First-Team All-American. Transferring to LSU ahead of the 2023 season where he’d help lead the Tigers to a national championship victory in Omaha, named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player and winner of the Dick Howser Trophy after being named the Player and Pitcher of the Year by several publications. Leading the nation with 209 strikeouts.

On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this report.