Tarik Skubal: Detroit’s New Ace and the Future of Tigers Greatness
For decades, the Detroit Tigers have been synonymous with elite pitching. From Hal Newhouser’s postwar brilliance to Jack Morris’s fiery dominance in the 1980s, and Justin Verlander’s golden era of the 2000s and 2010s, the franchise has long been defined by its aces. Today, that tradition is alive again — embodied by Tarik Skubal, the 6-foot-3 left-hander whose command, poise, and power have made him not just the best player on the Tigers roster, but one of the most complete pitchers in all of Major League Baseball.
As of the 2025 season, Skubal has firmly established himself as the heart of Detroit’s rotation. His rise from a ninth-round draft pick to an ace-caliber pitcher has been one of baseball’s most remarkable development stories — one that reflects both his resilience and the Tigers’ commitment to rebuilding their franchise around homegrown talent.
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A Pitcher Built on Resilience
Tarik Skubal’s story is one of grit and perseverance. Born in Hayward, California, and raised in Kingman, Arizona, Skubal was not an early favorite among scouts. Though he flashed potential during his time at Seattle University, his career was derailed in college when he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016. Many players never fully recover from such a setback, and Skubal’s draft stock plummeted as a result.
The Tigers, however, saw something more than just a pitcher rehabbing an elbow. They saw a competitor with a rare work ethic and a devastating fastball that could play at the major league level. When Detroit selected him in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB Draft, few could have predicted that he would one day anchor their rotation.
But within two years, Skubal began proving them right. His rapid rise through the minor league system showcased both dominance and maturity. In Double-A Erie, he struck out hitters at a staggering rate, posting double-digit strikeout performances and showing advanced command of his arsenal. His fastball touched 98 mph, and his breaking pitches continued to develop — a combination that made him one of the most promising left-handed prospects in the game.
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Ascension to the Majors
Skubal made his MLB debut in August 2020, a pandemic-shortened season filled with uncertainty. His first few outings were rocky, as he adjusted to big-league hitters and the pressure of competing against elite lineups. Yet even then, glimpses of his future greatness were evident. His fastball generated swings and misses, his changeup baffled right-handed batters, and his poise on the mound suggested a veteran’s mentality.
By 2022, Skubal began to settle into his role as Detroit’s front-line starter. Despite battling injuries late in that season, he posted a sub-3.00 ERA through much of the year and consistently delivered quality starts. When healthy, he was virtually unhittable — mixing velocity, location, and deception with a surgeon’s precision.
After returning from a flexor tendon surgery that sidelined him for much of 2023, Skubal looked even sharper. His mechanics had improved, his command tightened, and his velocity was back in full force. That season marked the turning point: Skubal was no longer just a promising arm — he was an ace.
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The 2024 Breakout
If 2023 was a glimpse, 2024 became the statement. Tarik Skubal emerged as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, finishing among the league leaders in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP. His ability to command four plus-pitches — a high-riding fastball, a wipeout slider, a fading changeup, and a hard-breaking curveball — made him unpredictable and almost unhittable.
At times, he looked like a reincarnation of prime Justin Verlander, only from the left side. Like Verlander, Skubal could dominate late in games, his velocity barely dipping as he entered the seventh and eighth innings. Analysts began drawing parallels between the two — both were workhorses with electric stuff, both carried themselves with quiet confidence, and both gave their teams a chance to win every time they took the mound.
“Skubal reminds me of the young Verlander,” one MLB scout said during the 2024 season. “He’s got that same mix of aggression and precision — he knows exactly what he’s doing with every pitch.”
The numbers backed that up. Skubal ranked in the top five in the American League in strikeout rate and ERA+, while leading the league in several advanced pitching metrics such as FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and xERA (expected ERA). His dominance was not the product of luck — it was the result of execution and evolution.
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A Commanding Arsenal
Part of what makes Skubal elite is his ability to adapt and evolve as hitters adjust to him. His fastball, which regularly sits between 95 and 98 mph, is the foundation of his game. But unlike many power pitchers, Skubal doesn’t rely solely on velocity. He pairs his fastball with a slider that bites hard into the back foot of right-handers, a changeup with fading movement that induces weak contact, and a sharp curveball that he uses to steal strikes early in counts.
This variety allows him to attack hitters in multiple ways. Against lefties, he often uses his slider and high fastball combination to induce swings and misses. Against righties, his changeup becomes the equalizer, neutralizing their advantage and forcing soft grounders.
His control and sequencing are elite. Skubal doesn’t just throw pitches; he sets hitters up. His ability to read swings, adjust mid-game, and stay unpredictable has made him one of the toughest pitchers in the league to game-plan against.
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Leadership and Mental Maturity
While Skubal’s physical tools are elite, what truly elevates him is his mental approach. Teammates often describe him as intensely focused yet approachable — a quiet leader who leads by example rather than words.
He spends hours studying opposing lineups, dissecting tendencies, and refining his pitch mix. Coaches have praised his ability to make adjustments on the fly, something that separates good pitchers from great ones. Whether facing adversity after a tough inning or riding the momentum of a dominant outing, Skubal remains composed.
That composure has rubbed off on Detroit’s younger pitchers. Skubal has embraced a leadership role in a rotation filled with developing arms, mentoring players like Reese Olson and Casey Mize. The Tigers coaching staff views him as a cornerstone — not just statistically, but culturally.
“Tarik’s the guy everyone looks up to,” said manager A.J. Hinch. “He’s got that ace mentality — the preparation, the drive, the consistency. You know exactly what you’re getting every fifth day, and that’s the mark of greatness.”
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Comparisons to Justin Verlander
It’s nearly impossible to discuss Tarik Skubal’s rise without invoking the name Justin Verlander. The former Tigers legend, who won two Cy Young Awards and an MVP during his Detroit tenure, set the gold standard for pitching excellence in the Motor City.
Like Verlander, Skubal combines power with precision, confidence with calm. Both possess elite mechanics and a deep understanding of how to attack hitters. While Verlander’s four-seam fastball and 12-6 curve defined his dominance, Skubal’s blend of high velocity and modern pitch design reflects the evolution of pitching in the analytics era.
What’s perhaps most striking is how both pitchers have come to represent eras of Tigers baseball. Verlander symbolized Detroit’s championship pursuits in the 2010s; Skubal now represents their resurgence in the mid-2020s — a new generation of hope built around homegrown talent.
If Skubal continues his trajectory, he may soon join Verlander in the conversation of greatest Tigers pitchers of all time.
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The Face of Detroit’s Rebuild
Detroit’s long rebuild, following years of struggles after the Verlander-Miguel Cabrera era, has finally begun to bear fruit — and Skubal sits at the center of it. With a young, developing lineup around him, the Tigers have built their future on pitching depth, player development, and patience.
Skubal’s success serves as both validation and inspiration. His emergence proves that the franchise’s investment in analytics, biomechanics, and player health is paying off. He’s not just the Tigers’ ace — he’s the model of what the organization hopes to replicate across its system.
Each time he takes the mound at Comerica Park, fans see not just a dominant pitcher but a symbol of Detroit’s baseball revival. His starts have become must-watch events, echoing the same anticipation that once surrounded Verlander and Max Scherzer.
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Statistical Excellence and Legacy in the Making
By mid-2025, Tarik Skubal’s statistical profile rivals some of the best in franchise history at similar points in their careers. His ERA hovers around the low 2.00s, and his WHIP remains among the league’s elite. More impressively, his strikeout-to-walk ratio reflects a level of command rarely seen among power pitchers.
Advanced metrics only deepen the appreciation for his dominance. His WAR (Wins Above Replacement) places him among the top pitchers in baseball, while his ERA+ — adjusted for park and league factors — shows that his effectiveness extends beyond traditional box-score numbers.
If he maintains this pace over the next few seasons, Skubal could easily find himself in Cy Young contention — perhaps even winning one, just as Verlander did in his prime. And if the Tigers’ offense continues to improve, Skubal may have the chance to lead Detroit back into serious postseason contention.
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A Star Built for Longevity
The most encouraging sign for Detroit fans is that Skubal’s success feels sustainable. His delivery is smooth and repeatable, reducing injury risk. His focus on analytics and biomechanics allows him to make subtle mechanical tweaks without compromising velocity or command.
He has also shown an understanding of pacing himself through a long season — knowing when to dial up velocity and when to rely on movement and location. It’s a level of maturity that suggests he could remain at the top of his game well into his 30s.
With every passing start, Skubal’s reputation grows — not just as Detroit’s best player, but as one of the premier pitchers in the game.
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Conclusion: The Torch Has Been Passed
For years, Detroit fans longed for another ace to lead the franchise into a new era. With Tarik Skubal, that wish has been fulfilled. His blend of talent, intelligence, and resilience has revived the spirit of Tigers baseball — a reminder of the glory days of Verlander, Scherzer, and Morris, now reborn in a left-handed force of nature.
As he continues to carve through lineups and pile up strikeouts, Skubal is writing his own chapter in Tigers history — one pitch, one inning, one masterpiece at a time.
And while comparisons to legends will always follow him, Tarik Skubal is not just the next Justin Verlander. He is the first Tarik Skubal — the face of Detroit’s present, and the promise of its future.
