HOUSTON (AP) — Detroit Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal spent two sleepless nights wrestling with a difficult choice about his future with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner ultimately chose to step away from additional pitching duties for the United States squad.
“My spring training start days were scripted out in January with the original plan being starting and then being done,” Skubal said. “And obviously when I got here my emotions kind of changed a little bit, my thought process changed a little bit and tried to make it work but just couldn’t. And I hate it, but it’s all right.”
The decision came after discussions with Detroit’s organization and manager A.J. Hinch, his representative Scott Boras, and fellow players both in Houston and at the Tigers’ Florida spring training facility.
“The resounding message was to kind of be done but still be around the team as much as I can,” Skubal said.
With free agency looming after this season and a potential contract worth over $100 million on the horizon, Skubal acknowledged the financial stakes influenced his choice. He admitted his decision would have “probably” been different without those contract considerations.
In Saturday night’s 9-1 triumph over Britain, Skubal surrendered a home run to Nate Eaton on his opening pitch but dominated afterward, allowing only one hit while recording five strikeouts across three innings.
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa expressed complete understanding and backing for Skubal’s choice.
“I know what’s at stake for him,” DeRosa said. “I’m over the moon he decided to show in the first place for us — I really am — and take the ball for us. I think it meant a lot to a lot of guys in that room. We know where his heart is. If he was in a different situation, he wouldn’t be leaving.”
Previously, Skubal had indicated he planned to make just one WBC appearance regardless of Team USA’s tournament progress, wanting to stick with his regular spring preparation routine for Detroit’s season opener.
However, he was caught off guard by the intense emotions he felt while pitching for his nation, which led him to reconsider his original plan.
“I totally misread how I would feel,” he said. “And I feel like I’m genuinely a guy that kind of understands emotions, I pitch with a lot of them, but, yeah, I missed it there, and that’s what made this decision tough.”
Despite stepping back from pitching duties, Skubal plans to travel from the Tigers’ Lakeland, Florida training facility to Miami to support his teammates should the United States reach the tournament’s final rounds.
When questioned about whether he felt comfortable with his decision, Skubal was candid.
“No, no, I’m still not,” he said. “I think the only way I’ll be at peace with it is in Miami celebrating after we win the whole (expletive) thing.”
Looking ahead, Skubal expressed enthusiasm about potentially representing the United States in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if major league players receive approval to compete, and he’s already committed to participating in the next World Baseball Classic.
“I love America,” he said. “I love our country. I love everything that this tournament is about.”
