Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes stands in the dugout before a baseball game against the Athletics Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Friday one of its promotional items for the 2026 season, and it’s the Paul Skenes Cy Young Award bobblehead.
It is planned for Saturday, April 18, when the Pirates host the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Pirates announced plans for the bobblehead in celebration of Skenes being named the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner. The Pirates will make the bobblehead available to every ticketed fan entering the ballpark on April 18.
Skenes is just the third Cy Young Award winner in franchise history, joining Vernon Law (1960) and Doug Drabek (1990).
In his first full MLB season, Skenes posted a 1.97 ERA with 216 strikeouts in 32 starts, leading the National League in ERA and WHIP (0.95).
He set the franchise record for most strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher in a season and finished with the fifth-most strikeouts in a single season by a Pirates pitcher.
Alcaraz officially the top player
TURIN, Italy — Carlos Alcaraz was full of smiles as he lifted the trophy for the year-end No. 1 tennis player on Friday.
After a scintillating tussle with Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz secured the ranking on Thursday by sealing a sweep of his three group-stage matches at the ATP Finals.
The 22-year-old Spaniard was presented with the trophy at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, shortly before Sinner’s match against Ben Shelton.
“It’s a great pleasure for me to be No. 1 in the world again,” Alcaraz said. “It’s something that I’m working really hard for, with my team every day. It is a goal, to be honest, but I think it is a journey that you’re not going through alone. It’s with your whole team, with your family, with your close people behind you, always supporting you, in the tough and in the good moments.”
It is the second time in his career that Alcaraz has ended the year at the top of the rankings. He became the youngest player to finish a year at No. 1 when he achieved the feat as a 19-year-old in 2022.
Ex-PSU star cleared to play
MADRID — Miami Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson cleared concussion protocol on Friday and will be available for the game against the Washington Commanders in Madrid on Sunday.
Robinson, out of Penn State, did not play in a win over Buffalo last week.
Cornerback Rasul Douglas, wide receiver Dee Eskridge and linebacker Bradley Chubb were listed as questionable for the game at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Offensive lineman Austin Jackson was listed as doubtful because of a toe ailment. He had limited participation in practice all three days in Madrid.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he was “aggressively optimistic” about center Aaron Brewer, who had not practiced on Wednesday but ended up being cleared to play.
Denver without RB Dobbins
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey has pretty much been making a bigger impact with his pass catching than his ball carrying. That could change Sunday when Harvey figures to play a bigger role against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Broncos ruled out tailback starter J.K. Dobbins due to a foot injury. Also missing for the Broncos will be AP defensive player of the year Patrick Surtain II, leading tackler Alex Singleton, linebacker Jonah Elliss and tight end Nate Adkins. Harvey’s ready for his number to be called early and often.
Harvey has 50 carries for 214 yards and two scores this season. He also has caught 25 passes for 175 yards and four TDs.
As far as the Chiefs are concerned from a health standpoint, there is only one player who they know will not play Sunday and that is running back Isiah Pacheco, who is out with a knee injury.