Pirates' Ace Paul Skenes Praises City Connect Uniforms

Skenes calls the script on the new alternate jerseys 'very pirate-y'

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:19am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball player in their new 2026 City Connect uniform, the player's form broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.The Pirates' new City Connect uniform design, with its bold black and yellow color scheme, is deconstructed into a dynamic cubist composition.Today in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes has voiced his approval for the team's new 2026 City Connect uniforms, particularly highlighting the script lettering as his favorite part of the design. The Pirates debuted the all-black alternate uniforms with yellow accents in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

Why it matters

The City Connect uniform program has become an increasingly popular way for MLB teams to connect with their local communities through unique and creative alternate jersey designs. Skenes' positive comments on the Pirates' new look help generate excitement among the fanbase ahead of the team's first on-field debut of the alternate uniforms.

The details

During a fan interview, Skenes was asked what his favorite part of the Pirates' 2026 City Connect uniforms was, and he quickly responded that he likes 'the script' on the jerseys, calling it 'very pirate-y'. The Pirates went with an all-black design for their City Connect look, making yellow more of an accent color compared to the team's traditional black and gold color scheme. While Skenes did not get the chance to wear the new uniforms in Friday's game against the Rays, the 24-year-old ace is expected to don the alternate look at some point this season.

  • The Pittsburgh Pirates debuted their 2026 City Connect uniforms on Friday, April 18, 2026 against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The players

Paul Skenes

A 24-year-old starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who was asked about his thoughts on the team's new City Connect uniforms.

Bubba Chandler

The Pirates pitcher who got the start against the Rays on the day the City Connect uniforms were debuted, while Skenes did not wear them.

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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 is expected to have the opportunity to wear the Pirates' new City Connect uniforms at some point 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 design. This suggests the team's alternate look will be well-received by the fanbase when it makes its on-field debut.