Lakeland, Fla. – The rumblings started earlier in the week. His Team USA teammates were putting a little good-natured heat on Tarik Skubal to maybe stick around for more than one start.
When that news was brought back to Tigers’ manager AJ Hinch, his response was succinct: “I fully expect him to be back in camp.”
Well, guess what. Skubal, after pitching three dominant innings in Team USA’s 9-1 win over Great Britain Saturday, is indeed having second thoughts.
“(Team USA) totally gets what is going on with my situation,” Skubal told reporters in Houston after the game. “It’s unique. I’ve had these discussions with people, and most of them are extremely supportive of me being here in the first place. I have a ton of respect for that.
“It’s just hard. When you get into these environments, when you get this team, it’s hard to walk away from that.”
Skubal said he has reached out to the Tigers and to his agent Scott Boras and would take a day or two to think about what he wants to do. It’s a tricky issue. He threw 44 pitches against Great Britain in what was his third start of the spring.
He gave up a leadoff home run and then set down the next nine batters with five strikeouts and 14 whiffs.
It’s high-intensity work for mid-camp. Especially for arguably the best pitcher in the game who is on the precipice of the largest free-agent contract ever given to a pitcher. Skubal is one healthy season away from what industry pundits are guessing could be up to a $500 million payday.
Skubal, though, felt it was worth the risk for the experience. He said it was a win-win, he got to pitch in one game and then return to the Tigers. But the one game made him hungry for more.
“I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ,” Skubal told reporters. “I was pretty committed to making a start and getting back to camp. Things have changed, obviously, that’s why I’m going to have some conversations to try and figure out a plan for me.”
The Tigers play the Blue Jays in a spring game in Dunedin Sunday. Hinch will likely comment on the situation before the game.
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers’ Tarik Skubal contemplates staying with Team USA for another start
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
