Pirates' Ace Paul Skenes Praises New City Connect Uniforms

The 24-year-old starting pitcher shared his thoughts on the team's alternate look for 2026.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 4:30am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion, with sharp planes of navy, gold, and black representing the dynamic movement and energy of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a Pirates pitcher's motion captures the dynamic energy of the team's new City Connect uniforms.Today in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes expressed his approval for the team's new 2026 City Connect uniforms, particularly praising the script lettering as having a very 'pirate-y' feel. While Skenes did not get to wear the uniforms in Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, he seems excited about the team's new alternate look for the season.

Why it matters

The City Connect uniforms are an annual MLB initiative that allows teams to experiment with unique designs that connect to the local culture and identity of the franchise's home city. Skenes' positive comments on the Pirates' new uniforms suggest the team has struck a chord with their players and could generate excitement among the fanbase as well.

The details

During a fan interview, Skenes was asked about his favorite part of the Pirates' 2026 City Connect uniforms, to which he quickly responded, 'I like the script. It's very pirate-y.' The Pirates went with an all-black approach for their City Connect look, making yellow more of a secondary color compared to the uniforms of the seven other teams that unveiled new designs this season.

  • The Pirates debuted their 2026 City Connect uniforms on Friday, April 18, 2026 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
  • Skenes made his comments about the uniforms prior to the start of Friday's game.

The players

Paul Skenes

The 24-year-old starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who is considered one of the top young arms in baseball.

Bubba Chandler

The Pirates' starting pitcher who wore the new City Connect uniforms in Friday's game against the Rays, rather than Skenes.

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What they’re saying

“'I like the script. It's very pirate-y.'”

— Paul Skenes, Starting Pitcher

What’s next

Skenes will likely get another chance to wear the new City Connect uniforms on the mound for the Pirates later in the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Pirates' new City Connect uniforms have received a positive initial reaction from their star pitcher Paul Skenes, who praised the script lettering as capturing the 'pirate-y' spirit of the franchise. This suggests the team has succeeded in creating an alternate look that resonates with the players and could generate excitement among the fanbase as well.