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FORT MYERS, FL – Tarik Skubal is back with the Detroit Tigers.
The reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner reported Tuesday, March 10, to the Tigers' spring training complex in Lakeland, Florida, marking his return to camp after one start for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The 29-year-old left-hander considered staying with Team USA to make another start, only to stick with the initial one-and-done plan.
His next spring start is scheduled with the Tigers.
It's set for Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin.
"I felt like my duty was to be a sounding board for him and lay out what the original plan was – and the impact if things change for whatever reason," manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. "I feel for him because he's trying to do everything for everybody, but it was hard to see it working in the way that most people were assuming was a logical way for it to work. The timing became more and more of an issue."
JEFF SEIDEL: Tarik Skubal wants to keep pitching for Team USA. He's not a villain
After spring training, Skubal will start Opening Day for the Tigers on March 26 against the San Diego Padres. Had he made another start for Team USA, likely March 17 in the WBC championship game, he wouldn't have been available for the Tigers on Opening Day.
For Team USA, Skubal threw 41 pitches across three innings in Saturday's 9-1 win over Team Great Britain in the second game of pool play. He surrendered a solo home run to leadoff hitter Nate Eaton on a first-pitch fastball in the first inning, then dominated the rest of the way.
"We're both supportive and happy that he's coming back," Hinch said, "but we would've supported whatever needed to happen to make him feel like he got a full experience in what he was after."
The Tigers set the initial plan in January.
Skubal ultimately followed the plan.
"He was in a really hard spot to try to please everybody in a world where criticism is easy," Hinch said. "He should take no criticism because I think he did something incredible to be a part of it in the first place."
This story will be updated.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers set pitching plan for Tarik Skubal after Team USA
Continue reading...
The reigning two-time American League Cy Young winner reported Tuesday, March 10, to the Tigers' spring training complex in Lakeland, Florida, marking his return to camp after one start for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The 29-year-old left-hander considered staying with Team USA to make another start, only to stick with the initial one-and-done plan.
His next spring start is scheduled with the Tigers.
It's set for Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin.
"I felt like my duty was to be a sounding board for him and lay out what the original plan was – and the impact if things change for whatever reason," manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox. "I feel for him because he's trying to do everything for everybody, but it was hard to see it working in the way that most people were assuming was a logical way for it to work. The timing became more and more of an issue."
JEFF SEIDEL: Tarik Skubal wants to keep pitching for Team USA. He's not a villain
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After spring training, Skubal will start Opening Day for the Tigers on March 26 against the San Diego Padres. Had he made another start for Team USA, likely March 17 in the WBC championship game, he wouldn't have been available for the Tigers on Opening Day.
For Team USA, Skubal threw 41 pitches across three innings in Saturday's 9-1 win over Team Great Britain in the second game of pool play. He surrendered a solo home run to leadoff hitter Nate Eaton on a first-pitch fastball in the first inning, then dominated the rest of the way.
"We're both supportive and happy that he's coming back," Hinch said, "but we would've supported whatever needed to happen to make him feel like he got a full experience in what he was after."
The Tigers set the initial plan in January.
Skubal ultimately followed the plan.
"He was in a really hard spot to try to please everybody in a world where criticism is easy," Hinch said. "He should take no criticism because I think he did something incredible to be a part of it in the first place."
This story will be updated.
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers set pitching plan for Tarik Skubal after Team USA
Continue reading...
