- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,149,813
- Reaction score
- 59
Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal may not be able to take the mound in a live game just yet, but he looked sharp in a simulated session.
Skubal pitched nearly three innings of a live bullpen session at Comerica Park on Tuesday, May 26, facing Tigers batters Zack Short, Gage Workman and Jahmai Jones for his first test against live hitters since undergoing a procedure to remove a bone chip from his left elbow on May 6.
His line – 2⅔ innings pitched, one hit, one run (on a home run from Jones), three strikeouts and zero walks on 39 pitches.
Though pitch data was not available for the session, Skubal appeared to have his entire arsenal in place, at one point celebrating when he threw a backdoor breaking ball to Jones for a strike.
Even more impressive than Skubal's throwing, however, was the relatively quick time period between his surgery 20 days ago and his first live bullpen session – and his potential return to game action.
"Three weeks ago, I didn't know when I was gonna be back," he said. "I guess if you were to check the timelines, I'd say three months, and I don't think it's gonna be three months, obviously. That's very positive."
MORE: Prospect Max Anderson keeps doing the one thing the Tigers need now
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch called Skubal's session "really encouraging."
"It's good to see him out there letting the ball go freely," he said. "Velocity was really good, stuff was good, execution was okay, all things that he's going to challenge himself with as he gets ramped up."
Hinch said the bullpen session qualified as Skubal's "start day," meaning he will throw another bullpen session before increasing his workload in another five days.
"The hope is that you're gonna build the ups and build the volume to a level that he can go out, and the next stressor will be competition, it's going to be a rehab assignment," he said, though he didn't specify when the Tigers planned on scheduling Skubal's minor league rehab start.
Though Skubal was encouraged by his session, he is trying to make sure he's fully recovered before coming back to action, especially with the timelines for recovery for his "Skubal Scope" procedure not firmly established.
"I'm trying to do everything I can to be back as fast as possible but also as healthy as possible," he said. "I don't want to come back, say, two, three weeks from now and then go right back on the shelf a month later. That's not the goal. The goal is to come back and pitch the rest of the season healthy and play postseason baseball."
Per Hinch, Tigers starter Justin Verlander will throw a live bullpen session on Wednesday, May 27, as part of his continued rehab from a hip injury.
Verlander last threw a live bullpen on Wednesday, May 20, allowing three home runs over four simulated innings. Hinch later said that Verlander was "inching forward" with his rehab and that there was no set date for his return.
"We're probably gonna get four or five ups, we're trying to get him in the 65 to 75 [pitch] range, I don't know exactly what we're going to get to. No restrictions other than just another day on the mound," Hinch said on Tuesday.
Verlander made one start this season before landing on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation. He was later added to the 60-day IL retroactive to April 4, meaning Sunday, May 31 is the first day he is able to return.
Right-hander Ty Madden threw a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Monday, pitching 4⅓ innings while allowing four hits and one run, striking out three and walking three. He has been out since taking a line drive to his pitching arm on May 15 and is eligible to return on Sunday, though Hinch said the team hasn't yet determined whether Madden will join the big league club or make pitch elsewhere in the minors over the weekend.
Hinch said they are building up Madden for a return as a starter, but didn't commit to Madden starting upon returning to Detroit, especially with the return of starter Troy Melton filling the team's rotation for now.
"I don't know what we'll need in five days, hopefully, and nothing against [Madden], but hopefully nothing happens between now and then and we have a decision to make," Hinch said.
Second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielder Kerry Carpenter both ran drills at Comerica Park on Tuesday, with Carpenter taking fly balls in the outfield and even catching a ball during Skubal's live bullpen.
Hinch said that Carpenter is "swinging pretty close to full speed" and could potentially take live at-bats during Verlander's simulated session on Wednesday. Carpenter has been out since suffering a left shoulder injury slamming into the outfield wall at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on May 9.
Torres, meanwhile, has been out since May 2 with a left oblique strain, but may be back in action soon, according to Hinch.
"Once we get past these next couple of days, hopefully there will be a game competition for both," Hinch said.
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers ace Tarik Skubal impresses in live bullpen session
Continue reading...
Skubal pitched nearly three innings of a live bullpen session at Comerica Park on Tuesday, May 26, facing Tigers batters Zack Short, Gage Workman and Jahmai Jones for his first test against live hitters since undergoing a procedure to remove a bone chip from his left elbow on May 6.
His line – 2⅔ innings pitched, one hit, one run (on a home run from Jones), three strikeouts and zero walks on 39 pitches.
Though pitch data was not available for the session, Skubal appeared to have his entire arsenal in place, at one point celebrating when he threw a backdoor breaking ball to Jones for a strike.
Even more impressive than Skubal's throwing, however, was the relatively quick time period between his surgery 20 days ago and his first live bullpen session – and his potential return to game action.
"Three weeks ago, I didn't know when I was gonna be back," he said. "I guess if you were to check the timelines, I'd say three months, and I don't think it's gonna be three months, obviously. That's very positive."
MORE: Prospect Max Anderson keeps doing the one thing the Tigers need now
Timeline for Tarik Skubal's return not yet set
You must be registered for see images attach
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch called Skubal's session "really encouraging."
"It's good to see him out there letting the ball go freely," he said. "Velocity was really good, stuff was good, execution was okay, all things that he's going to challenge himself with as he gets ramped up."
Hinch said the bullpen session qualified as Skubal's "start day," meaning he will throw another bullpen session before increasing his workload in another five days.
"The hope is that you're gonna build the ups and build the volume to a level that he can go out, and the next stressor will be competition, it's going to be a rehab assignment," he said, though he didn't specify when the Tigers planned on scheduling Skubal's minor league rehab start.
Though Skubal was encouraged by his session, he is trying to make sure he's fully recovered before coming back to action, especially with the timelines for recovery for his "Skubal Scope" procedure not firmly established.
"I'm trying to do everything I can to be back as fast as possible but also as healthy as possible," he said. "I don't want to come back, say, two, three weeks from now and then go right back on the shelf a month later. That's not the goal. The goal is to come back and pitch the rest of the season healthy and play postseason baseball."
Justin Verlander to throw live bullpen Wednesday
You must be registered for see images attach
Per Hinch, Tigers starter Justin Verlander will throw a live bullpen session on Wednesday, May 27, as part of his continued rehab from a hip injury.
Verlander last threw a live bullpen on Wednesday, May 20, allowing three home runs over four simulated innings. Hinch later said that Verlander was "inching forward" with his rehab and that there was no set date for his return.
"We're probably gonna get four or five ups, we're trying to get him in the 65 to 75 [pitch] range, I don't know exactly what we're going to get to. No restrictions other than just another day on the mound," Hinch said on Tuesday.
Verlander made one start this season before landing on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation. He was later added to the 60-day IL retroactive to April 4, meaning Sunday, May 31 is the first day he is able to return.
Ty Madden could return Sunday
You must be registered for see images attach
Right-hander Ty Madden threw a rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Monday, pitching 4⅓ innings while allowing four hits and one run, striking out three and walking three. He has been out since taking a line drive to his pitching arm on May 15 and is eligible to return on Sunday, though Hinch said the team hasn't yet determined whether Madden will join the big league club or make pitch elsewhere in the minors over the weekend.
Hinch said they are building up Madden for a return as a starter, but didn't commit to Madden starting upon returning to Detroit, especially with the return of starter Troy Melton filling the team's rotation for now.
"I don't know what we'll need in five days, hopefully, and nothing against [Madden], but hopefully nothing happens between now and then and we have a decision to make," Hinch said.
Gleyber Torres and Kerry Carpenter make progress
Second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielder Kerry Carpenter both ran drills at Comerica Park on Tuesday, with Carpenter taking fly balls in the outfield and even catching a ball during Skubal's live bullpen.
Hinch said that Carpenter is "swinging pretty close to full speed" and could potentially take live at-bats during Verlander's simulated session on Wednesday. Carpenter has been out since suffering a left shoulder injury slamming into the outfield wall at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on May 9.
Torres, meanwhile, has been out since May 2 with a left oblique strain, but may be back in action soon, according to Hinch.
"Once we get past these next couple of days, hopefully there will be a game competition for both," Hinch said.
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers ace Tarik Skubal impresses in live bullpen session
Continue reading...
