Paul Skenes Pays Homage to Daisuke Matsuzaka
American pitcher Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates starred in a moving gesture during spring training. Skenes gifted an autographed United States team cap to Daisuke Matsuzaka, a Japanese baseball legend and a prominent figure in the history of the World Baseball Classic.
The meeting took place at the club’s camp in Bradenton, where Skenes is preparing for his debut in the international tournament.
In a video released by the organization, the moment is captured when Skenes gives the signed cap to Matsuzaka, highlighting that it was the first time he had autographed with the colors of the American team.
Matsuzaka is an iconic figure in the World Baseball Classic. His performance in the 2006 and 2009 editions established him as one of the most important players in the tournament.
- In 2006, he led Japan to victory and was named Most Valuable Player.
- He repeated the award in 2009, when Japan defended the title.
Matsuzaka holds historical records in the tournament, including the most wins (6) and strikeouts (23), as well as ranking second in innings pitched (27.2) with an ERA of 1.95.
Skenes, winner of the National League Cy Young Award, will lead the rotation of the American team. The team’s debut will be against Brazil on March 6, in Group B, where they will seek to start their own outstanding trajectory in the tournament.
