Detroit — There’s still no timetable, but there’s a lot of talk.
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal continues to appear well ahead of schedule in his rehab from arthroscopic elbow surgery, and he took another step Thursday, throwing more than 30 pitches in a bullpen session.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch called it a “great step” in speaking to the media before the series finale against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park.
“He came into my office right away, was excited,” Hinch said. “It’s full stuff.”
Hinch said the next step for Skubal will be another bullpen session during the Tigers’ weekend series in Baltimore. Beyond that, things remain unclear, though Skubal confirmed to reporters, including MLB.com’s Jason Beck after his bullpen session Thursday, that he will need at least one rehab stint before he eventually rejoins the rotation.
Hinch said Skubal’s pregame bullpen session featured some simulated game elements, including a sitdown, like he would between innings of a normal state. Hinch said Skubal’s velocity was the highest it’s been since he started throwing, remarkably less than three weeks after he had surgery to remove a loose body from the elbow.
“There are little hurdles to clear along the way when you come back from a procedure,” Hinch said. “And as much as we’ve described it as simple, it’s still a procedure. So, you know, being able to let it go freely and … lean on a few in a bullpen like he normally would, he did that today.
“Hopefully we can ask more out of him again in five days.”
Skubal wouldn’t say what his velocity was at Thursday, though he told reporters, including The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen, it was “100% for a bullpen” session.
“You got to prove to your body that it’s OK to throw hard again, especially being 15 days from surgery,” Skubal told reporters, including Stavenhagen.
Hinch has been out since early May, and the Tigers have gone 2-12 in his absence to fall to 10 games below .500 (20-30) for the first time since 2023. They started Thursday tied for last place in the American League Central, trying to avoid a four-game sweep by the Guardians.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tarik Skubal injury update: Tigers ace takes ‘great step,’ velocity up
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
