The Pirates aren’t wasting any time in celebrating Paul Skenes’ Cy Young Award. On April 18, during the Bucs’ second homestand, fans can get their hands on a limited edition Skenes bobblehead and watch the Pirates take on the Rays.
When the club released a Skenes bobblehead in honor of his Rookie of the Year Award, fans lined up outside PNC Park hours before gates opened. The massive turnout forced the Pirates to offer the bobblehead to all attendees rather than just the first 20,000. It appears they’ve learned their lesson this time around. All fans in attendance on April 18 will receive the Cy Young version.
Pirates fans have another shot at a Paul Skenes bobblehead this April.
This will be the third Skenes bobblehead giveaway in a year; the Pirates sold exclusive tickets for a Superman version of Skenes in June of 2025. Some fans use the free giveaways as an opportunity to make a quick buck. The ROY and Superman Skenes bobbleheads can net $50-75 on eBay. Most fans, though, are happy to hold a commemoration of the Pirates’ first Cy Young winner since 1990.
It seems the honor of a bobblehead will be rare in Pittsburgh in 2026. The Pirates’ lack of marketable stars may be why the Skenes icon is just one of three bobbleheads scheduled to be released this season. The other two will feature an as-yet-unnamed Pittsburgh personality for Yinzerpalooza (last year’s edition featured the late Mac Miller) and (presumably) Roberto Clemente on Clemente Day.
Skenes is one of just three contemporary Pirates to feature on at least three different solo bobbleheads since 2000, according to Bullpen Bobbleheads. Andrew McCutchen has had four giveaways, the most recent being in June 2024. Jason Bay was featured on three of his own. The Double-A Altoona Curve also had a Skenes bobbling mustache giveaway in 2024, and the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians gave away a Skenes bobblehead with a strikeout counter in 2024 and a ROY version in 2025.
Pirates fans in attendance for the bobble will also be treated to a matchup between Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay that takes on slightly more significance after the Brandon Lowe trade. The Saturday afternoon game will be the second in a three-game series as the Pirates’ new second baseman and reliever Mason Montgomery take on their former team.
