DETROIT — In 2018, the Detroit Tigers took a flyer on a left-hander coming off Tommy John surgery. Ninth round. Seattle University. Not exactly a headline-grabber.
Fast forward to 2025. That same pitcher, Tariq Skubal, is the face of the Tigers’ rotation. He is a Cy Young winner and a legitimate threat to every batter who steps into the box.
So how did we get here?
Drafted Low, Climbed Fast
Skubal’s pro journey started quietly. After Tommy John derailed his college career, many teams passed. The Tigers didn’t. They took him in the 9th round, betting on upside.
They didn’t have to wait long.
By 2019, Skubal was lighting up radar guns in Erie and mowing down hitters with double-digit strikeout performances. He finished the season with 179 Ks across two levels, putting himself squarely on the organization’s radar.
Major League Arrival
Skubal made his debut in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He showed flashes. By 2021, those flashes were more like sparks. He was the first rookie in team history to reach 100 strikeouts before the All-Star break.
Then came 2022. An elbow injury—again. Another surgery. Another reset.
Only this time, it changed everything.
Reinvention and Breakout
Skubal returned to the mound in mid-2023, stronger and smarter. He’d added command. Confidence. A changeup that fell off the table. And most importantly: a presence.
He closed out 2023 with a 2.80 ERA and 102 strikeouts in just 15 starts.
Then came 2024. And that’s when things got loud.
The Ace Arrives
Skubal led the American League in wins (18), ERA (2.39), strikeouts (228), and ERA+ (170). He didn’t just pitch well—he dominated.
The baseball world took notice.
Skubal was named an All-Star. He helped carry the Tigers into contention. He brought home the AL Cy Young in a unanimous vote—something no Tiger had done since Justin Verlander.
He didn’t stop there.
2025: Dominance Continues
This season, Skubal is doing exactly what aces are supposed to do. He signed a $10.15 million deal to avoid arbitration. Then he threw his first career shutout. A 13-strikeout “Maddux”—a complete game under 100 pitches—cemented his status as a surgeon on the mound.
He’s been named AL Player of the Week. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the second straight year. He leads the league in nearly every major category: ERA, WHIP, strikeouts, and opponents’ batting average.
Through mid-July, he’s 10–2 with a 2.02 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP. And yes, he’s already passed 140 strikeouts.
Quiet Confidence, Loud Results
Ask anyone around the clubhouse, and they’ll tell you: Skubal is the real deal. Teammates describe him as calm, focused, and relentlessly prepared. His pitching coach, Chris Fetter, calls him “a student of the game.”
Manager A.J. Hinch? He just smiles and says, “He’s everything we hoped for and more.”
The Tigers haven’t had a lefty like this in decades. And with every start, it becomes more obvious: Skubal’s no fluke. He’s the ace. The anchor. The kind of pitcher you build around.
In a city craving a return to October, Skubal might just be the arm that gets them there.