Tarik Skubal is rolling back into Detroit this weekend, rocking a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform, and believe me, this ain’t just another series. The story’s all about his return, and honestly, the circumstances from his final year with the Tigers are still way too fresh for anyone to be chill about it. This dude became one of the greatest pitchers in their franchise history, a two-time Cy Young winner, and watching his career explode was a wild ride for everyone who bled Detroit colors.
From Afterthought to Absolute Beast: Skubal’s Unbelievable Climb
Think back to draft day 2018, when the Tigers snagged Skubal in the ninth round. Most folks were focused on the hotshot first-rounders like Casey Mize, Matt Manning, and Alex Faedo. Skubal? He was an afterthought, a skinny, young lefty with a good fastball but not much else. His breaking stuff and changeup were, frankly, mediocre. The initial thought was maybe he’d be a fastball-heavy reliever, nothing more. He showed flashes in A-ball, but then 2019 hit. He absolutely tore through High-A, then went straight up nuts during a 42.1 inning stint at Double-A to close out the year. He was sitting comfortably at 95 mph, even touching 97-98 mph, and his four-seamer had outrageous carry traits. His slider got a bit better, but he was still leaning hard on that fastball, yet nobody could touch him. He was striking out a ridiculous 48.2 percent of hitters, with an insane 21.7 percent whiff rate. There wasn’t much artistry, just pure power. It looked like a game of catch on steroids, honestly, just throwing fastballs by everyone with abandon.
The Rocky Road to Two Cy Youngs and a Heartbreak Trade
It’s easy to forget how much effort it took for Skubal to transform, physically and mentally, into the beast we saw from mid-2023 until his trade. His 2020 debut during that weird short COVID season wasn’t impressive at all. He got marginally better in 2021 as his slider picked up, but he was shockingly prone to giving up dingers. Then MLB cracked down on sticky stuff in June 2021. Skubal’s fastball spin rate dropped after those new policies and umpire inspections hit, no doubt forcing an adjustment period to recalibrate that heater. The first massive evolution of his pro career came right after those changes, when Skubal started mixing in his sinker and using his slider way more, and that slider got significantly better. That was the turning point that turned him into the dominant force he became.
So, here we are, Skubal back in the old stomping grounds for a weekend series. You know the Tigers fans are going to be feeling it, seeing their former ace in another uniform. How will he pitch? What kind of reception will he get? This weekend is going to be intense.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
Leave a Reply