This article dives into a truly surreal offseason moment for Canisius University baseball. A mysterious email kicked off an impromptu bullpen session starring one of Major League Baseball’s brightest arms.
It started as a vague request for a “high-profile person” to throw. That quickly turned into a master class in professionalism, prep, and pitching excellence.
A Mysterious Email Turns Into a Baseball Reality
When Matt Mazurek checked his inbox, he found a strange request. Someone wanted to know if a “high-profile person” could throw a bullpen and if Mazurek knew a local catcher who could help.
No names. No details. Just enough to make him curious.
Instead of ignoring it, Mazurek decided to dig a bit deeper. He reached out to a contact with the Buffalo Bills’ social media staff and got confirmation from the school chaplain.
Turned out, the mystery guest was Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Skenes was in Buffalo and only had a short window between other commitments.
A Narrow Window Before Meeting Josh Allen
Skenes had carved out a tiny window before heading to Highmark Stadium to meet Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Time was tight, but Canisius didn’t want to miss this chance.
Canisius Steps Up for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Session
The setting wasn’t fancy, but it worked. A turf field near the weight room became a makeshift bullpen.
The Bills brought over a portable mound. Canisius staff measured out the regulation distance, making sure everything felt legit.
Mazurek picked junior Tom Zwirecki, the team’s new captain, to catch the session. For a college catcher, you hope for a call like that, but you never really expect it.
Major-League Preparation in Full View
Skenes rolled in with his own portable Trackman system. Right away, he set a professional tone.
He went through a focused, self-directed routine, just like he would in the big leagues:
He threw at about 55–65% effort—fastballs in the 89–92 mph range. Not bad for an offseason tune-up.
“Like Playing a Video Game”
Zwirecki could hardly believe what he was catching. The velocity was impressive, sure, but the precision stood out even more.
“It was like playing a video game,” Zwirecki said. He couldn’t get over Skenes’ command and pinpoint location.
Beyond Talent: A Lesson in Maturity
Zwirecki and Mazurek both noticed something beyond the raw stuff. Skenes carried himself like a ten-year vet, explaining his process when asked and staying locked in the whole time.
Mazurek admitted that seeing Skenes up close made him rethink how they’ll approach spring practices. The attention to detail, the purpose behind every rep, and the calm confidence—honestly, that’s the kind of example young players need.
A Memory That Will Last Forever
The moment felt even more special with Mazurek’s 7-year-old son, Maverick watching wide-eyed. A big-league star was just doing his thing, but to Maverick, it was magic.
Both catchers stood there, probably pinching themselves. That impromptu bullpen? Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Here is the source article for this story: Inside Paul Skenes’ random bullpen in Buffalo and the impact it might have on one local team
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