Tarik Skubal promised Team USA he would only pitch one game for them in the World Baseball Classic, doing so against Great Britain, but the experience had Skubal thinking he might deviate from his spring plan.
Skubal said he was not expecting to make the emotional connection with his fellow players and he underestimated the feeling of pitching for his country. However, he returned Monday to the Tigers to prepare for an important season.
Skubal, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner, is in his final year of arbitration. He will enter free agency for the 2027 season (if there is one) and is expected to become the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history.
My take: One could question what difference it makes if he pitches for Team USA or the Tigers right now, but the spring-training innings aren't high leverage and his routine in prepping for the season is better monitored by Tigers staff. Venit, vidit, vicit.
THE ASYLUM
Skubal returns to Tigers
Tarik Skubal promised Team USA he would only pitch one game for them in the World Baseball Classic, doing so against Great Britain, but the experience had Skubal thinking he might deviate from his spring plan.
Skubal said he was not expecting to make the emotional connection with his fellow players and he underestimated the feeling of pitching for his country. However, he returned Monday to the Tigers to prepare for an important season.
Skubal, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner, is in his final year of arbitration. He will enter free agency for the 2027 season (if there is one) and is expected to become the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history.
My take: One could question what difference it makes if he pitches for Team USA or the Tigers right now, but the spring-training innings aren't high leverage and his routine in prepping for the season is better monitored by Tigers staff. Venit, vidit, vicit.
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