Tarik Skubal was thought to be a great part in Team USA’s World Baseball Classic run, but just last week, the Detroit Tigers CY Young starter self-reported that he would pitch in just one game, against Great Britain, and then rejoin the Tigers for the remainder of spring training.
This caused some outcry by MLB fans, because everyone A. wants to see Skubal pitch and B. Team USA needs him for a deeper run in the tournament.
Bob Nightengale Reports Tarik Skubal Will Throw 55 Pitches in the WBC
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – APRIL 14: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after striking out Rhys Hoskins #12 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning at American Family Field on April 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports Monday afternoon that Tarik Skubal will throw just 55 pitches before returning to the Detroit Tigers for spring training, about two and a half weeks out from MLB’s Opening Day.
This is good news for Tigers fans, who don’t want to see their ace be used like a horse before a long season (which might be his last in a Tigers uniform).
Tarik Skubal threw 195.1 innings in 2025 and 192 innings the season prior over 62 total starts. That’s a lot for a player like Skubal, who is trying to earn the largest contract in MLB history for a pitcher at the end of the 2026 season.
But, back to how this impacts Team USA, there are sure to be more MLB fans upset with Tarik Skubal’s decision not to pitch as much as the assumption was for him to.
It’s good to hear that other pitchers like Paul Skenes will pick up his slack, but it’s fair to note that earlier this week, Twins starter Joe Ryan also stepped down from the World Baseball Classic with a back injury. Not implying that Ryan is maybe fully healthy, and Skubal could be laboring an injury, but the long MLB season that lies ahead is where some starters’ careers are really on the line.
More MLB on Heavy: Yankees Predicted to Regress in 2026
Tarik Skubal’s Value to the Tigers
Over the past two seasons, Skubal has a 13.1 pWAR and 469 strikeouts. He’s also led MLB in consecutive seasons in FIP and ERA+.
Skubal has a remarkable trajectory of lowering his ERA in every season he’s pitched in his career.
The 29-year-old southpaw represented his value in arbitration just last month, which was a historic case, and will earn $32 million this season. When he hits free agency, Skubal’s AAV demand could reach heights as high as $40-45 million per season, because he is that valuable.
More MLB on Heavy: Cardinals Announce New Fan Promo to Help with Severe Attendance Issues
Report: Tarik Skubal to Throw Just 55 Pitches in WBC for Team USA