Comstock Park — Tarik Skubal is back in the game. Already.
Remarkably, only a month after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow, Skubal, the Tigers ace and two-time American League Cy Young winner, pitched for the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps at LMCU Ballpark north of Grand Rapids on Sunday afternoon.
Skubal took the mound in a No. 34 navy-blue Whitecaps jersey, to a big ovation from a crowd of about 10,000. The game already was sold out before Skubal’s rehab start was announced by Tigers manager AJ Hinch last week.
How did Tarik Skubal do for the West Michigan Whitecaps?
But Skubal’s presence added to the ballpark’s buzz, with Skubal blue and white and orange jerseys seen all over the concourse at LMCU Ballpark, where fans were lined up more than two hours before first pitch.
He wasted little time in treating them to a show, with a 1-2-3 first inning. Skubal struck out the first two batters he faced on six pitches, then got a grounder to second to end the inning. He mixed some breaking balls and fastballs, with the fastball touching 98 mph in the first inning.
Skubal retired the first eight batters he faced, before allowing a single with two out in the second. He retired 15 of the 17 batters he faced through five innings, allowing just two hits, both with two outs, and one an infield single. Skubal needed 54 pitches to get through five innings; he threw 44 strikes.
Skubal struck out six and didn’t walk a batter. He walked off the field a standing ovation in the fifth inning, and said afterward he felt great but wouldn’t reveal a timeline for when he might pitch again for the Tigers.
“That’s a good question,” said Skubal, “that I’m not going to answer.”
Skubal was expected to go about five innings or 70 pitches Sunday, whichever came first. He made his way from the bullpen beyond right-center field about 10 minutes before first pitch, with a towel draped around his neck, like a prize fighter returning to the ring. He chatted with his catcher for the day, Bennett Lee, the two of them followed by several members of the Whitecaps pitching staff.
Skubal arrived at the ballpark before noon and came bearing a gift for players and staff — a gourmet coffee cart.
When will Tarik Skubal return to the Tigers?
It’s not immediately known how many rehab starts Skubal might need before rejoining the Tigers rotation. It’s possible he might need only Sunday’s start, his first for the Whitecaps since a 2023 rehab assignment.
Skubal was 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA in seven starts for the Tigers this season before he experienced discomfort in his left elbow during a late-April start against the Atlanta Braves. He was scratched from his next scheduled start, against the Boston Red Sox, and had surgery to remove a loose body in his elbow in early May.
The Tigers have gone into a tailspin since his injury, and while they won the first four games of June, they still entered Sunday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park at 13 games under .500 (26-39).
If the Tigers can’t get back into the race, Skubal figures to be the hottest commodity available ahead of the July 3 trade deadline, as he will become a free agent at season’s end.
This is a developing story. Check back to detroitnews.com for updates.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers ace Tarik Skubal takes the mound again: Here’s how he fared
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tony Paul, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
