Who Is Olivia Dunne’s Boyfriend? All About MLB Prospect Paul Skenes

Gymnast and influencer Olivia “Livvy” Dunne is off the market!

During an interview with The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in August 2023, Paul Skenes, an MLB prospect who signed a historic contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, confirmed that he’s dating Dunne.

“I do wish she could come to a baseball game and just enjoy it. It does irk me. I don’t have any control over it. She really doesn’t either. I’m sure it’ll get better as I go up levels, but that’s something I want for her,” he said, referring to the couple’s inability to go anywhere without massive attention from fans and followers.

Fans began speculating about the romance when Dunne was seen cheering Skenes on at his Single-A debut with the Bradenton Marauders.

As for how they crossed paths, it seems likely that the two got to know each other at Louisiana State University, where Dunne is recognized as a talented gymnast and the highest-paid NCAA female athlete. Meanwhile, Skenes led the baseball team to a 2023 College World Series victory.

So, who is Olivia Dunne’s boyfriend? Here’s everything to know about Paul Skenes and his relationship with the gymnast.

He’s a professional baseball player

Skenes is a professional baseball player with the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise. Currently, he plays for the Bradenton Marauders, a Single-A minor league team, as a pitcher. Though he’s in the minors right now, MLB.com estimates that he’ll reach the majors in 2024.

He signed a record-breaking contract with the MLB

Skenes, who was the No. 1 draft pick, received a landmark MLB contract when he signed with the Pirates in July 2023. He earned a $9.2 million signing bonus, which exceeds the previous record held by Spencer Torkelson, who signed for $8.4 million with the Detroit Tigers in 2020.

He confirmed his relationship with Dunne in August 2023

In August 2023, Dunne didn’t shut down dating rumors when a person claimed to see her out and about with a pro baseball player.

A Florida-based hairstylist named Madison, who goes by The Blonde Muse on TikTok, posted a video after the run-in. She shared the snippet with the text: “walked behind a girl in shake shack thinking ‘she would look good with blonde extensions’ and ITS LIVI DUNNE AND HER MLB BF.”

In the caption, Madison added, “i almost said hi.” Upon seeing the clip, Dunne responded in the comments section, writing, “aw you should’ve said hi!💞 always down for some hair touch-ups tho 👀.”

The next day, Dunne stitched the video with a clip of herself getting blonde extensions from Madison. Several of the comments on the video asked about or emphasized the phrase “MLB BF,” with many assuming the boyfriend in question was Skenes.

Later that same month, Skenes confirmed his relationship with Dunne in an interview with The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Dunne is his biggest fan

Dunne and Skenes first sparked dating rumors when she was spotted wearing his jersey at the College World Series in June 2023 — when the Tigers won the NCAA National Championship. The following month, Dunne further fueled speculation when she shared a photo on Snapchat that was geotagged in Bradenton, Florida, where Skenes plays for the Pirates franchise.

Another image showed Dunne posing with a Pirates baseball cap. But eagle-eyed fans also spotted a black baseball glove on the coffee table next to her, which is the same brand and color as the glove that Skenes uses.

He is Dunne’s No. 1 fan

In April 2024, the LSU Tigers gymnastics team secured their first-ever national championship win. Skenes celebrated his girlfriend’s major collegiate accomplishment by reposting a photo on Instagram of Dunne holding the massive trophy.

He and Dunne attended Louisiana State University

It’s possible Dunne and Skenes’ romance started at LSU. Skenes attended the school for a year, during which he helped the baseball team win the 2023 Men’s College World Series. He was also named the 2023 National Player of the Year, 2023 National Pitcher of the Year and 2023 College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

Dunne is set to graduate from LSU in 2024, though she shared in a July 2023 interview that she’s not attending classes in person for safety reasons. “There were some scares in the past, and I just want to be as careful as possible,” Dunne told ELLE. “I don’t want people to know my daily schedule and where I am.”

In July 2023, Dunne launched The Livvy Fund to “provide opportunities exclusively to female athletes at LSU,” per a press release.

“I’m so excited to build on the momentum of women in sports by utilizing the brand relationships I’ve built to help empower LSU female student-athletes with the knowledge and assistance to succeed in the NIL space,” she told PEOPLE.

A few months later, Skenes and Dunne attended an LSU football game, where he reunited with a few of his baseball buddies.

He attended the Air Force Academy

Skenes attended the Air Force Academy for two years before transferring to LSU for his junior year. In an interview with BRProud.com, he shared that he still hopes to serve in the military whenever his baseball career wraps up.

“I would say serving is still in the picture because that’s something that you can start doing when you’re 40, 50,” he said. “But I think, to be honest, you only get one shot at baseball, and so that’s my goal right now.”

When asked how his experience with the Air Force Academy influenced him, he explained that it involved “discipline” that has stayed with him.

“You get there the first day and you start 37 days of basic training,” he said. “You’re forced to figure out life really … Those 37 days, I never want to do that again but it’s 100% shaped who I am today.”

He supports veterans through Folds of Honor

Given his Air Force experience, Skenes has sought ways to support military families as he pursues his athletic career. During his 2023 LSU season, he pledged a donation of $10 to Folds of Honor for each strikeout.

Folds of Honor is a non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships to the children and spouses of military personnel and first responders who died or became disabled during their service.

“All who wear, or have worn, our country’s military uniforms have made tremendous sacrifices for our great nation,” Skenes wrote on his fundraising page. “An unfortunate few bear the physical or mental scars of war or have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

He continued: “We must do everything we can to support those in the uniform of our nation’s military who have chosen to protect and defend the United States of America. Please join me in supporting this community this season.”

He is from Lake Forest, California

According to his LSU profile, Skenes grew up in Lake Forest, California, which is located in Orange County. He played baseball for El Toro High School, where Athletic Director Armando Rivas said he was a “smiling and happy-go-lucky” teenager who was “a pleasure to be around,” according to an interview in the Daily Advertiser.