Some fans may not recognize pitcher Paul Skenes once the MLB season rolls around.
The Pittsburgh Pirates star turned heads this week in a surprise video alongside Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. The reigning NL Cy Young winner met with the reigning NFL MVP at the Bills’ training facility in Orchard Park, N.Y. The two shared a brief conversation and even swapped jerseys.
.@JoshAllenQB 🤝 @Paul_Skenes pic.twitter.com/93BrhJrI8K
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2026
What was noticeably missing was Skenes’ signature mustache, which the LSU alum had been rocking since he first entered the majors.
A true Buffalo experience.@Paul_Skenes x @livvydunne x @jared_jones_17 pic.twitter.com/G7BHyDzMVD
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 4, 2026
Skenes was almost unrecognizable without the lip curtain. It didn’t help that he was wearing a coat rather than any Pirates-colored garb. Instead, Skenes looked like a very large man trying (and failing) to impersonate Keanu Reeves.
A clean shave won’t be enough for Skenes to fool opposing hitters next year into thinking he isn’t the same guy who had a 1.97 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 32 starts.
The move may fan the flames linking Skenes to the New York Yankees, who famously prefer their players not to sport any facial hair. While the Yankees have loosened their grooming policy of late, fans of the team can dream.
