Fans go to the stadium to support the home team.
It’s that simple: perhaps a small percentage of those in attendance will be rooting for the visitors, but the home-field advantage concept exists, in large part, because of the impact of fans.
This is true for just about every professional sport, and MLB is obviously no exception.
However, on rare occasions, we will see the home crowd applauding and recognizing the greatness of a certain player of the opposing squad.
This is a privilege that only a few mortals earn over their careers, and young Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes experienced it on Tuesday night.
Universally seen as the face of pitching for the foreseeable future, Skenes impressed the home crowd so much that he got some love from the fans even while playing on the road.
Watch the video below: you won’t regret it.
“A standing ovation on the road! Nothing but respect for Paul Skenes in St. Louis last night,” MLB tweeted.
A standing ovation on the road!
Nothing but respect for Paul Skenes in St. Louis last night. pic.twitter.com/iQ9gcIRexZ
— MLB (@MLB) June 12, 2024
Skenes earned it, as he left the St. Louis Cardinals scoreless with a man on second base and one out in the seventh frame.
However, it’s also important to note how classy the Cardinals fans were.
There were cheers and hat tips for the young fireballer even if they know he will be facing St. Louis more than a few times per year for the next 10, 15, or 20 years.
The runner was stranded and Skenes’ line read no runs or walks through 6.1 innings, with eight strikeouts.
His season ERA is now a sparkling 2.43.
This is a special kid in every sense of the word.
The post Paul Skenes Received A Rare Honor On The Road appeared first on The Cold Wire.