Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has been making waves in the MLB, solidifying his status as one of the top starting pitchers in the game today. After three productive seasons, he’s not just a flash in the pan; he’s proving he’s ready to be compared with some of the All-Star greats.
Eric Haase, a former Tiger and now a catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, has a front-row seat to Skubal’s evolution. Reflecting on their time together in 2020, when Skubal first broke onto the scene, Haase recalled his initial impressions. At that time, the hype surrounded pitchers Casey Mize, Alex Faedo, and Matt Manning, but Haase saw something special in Skubal. “I don’t want to say I called it,” he noted, “but I kept thinking, ‘That’s David Price.’” High praise indeed.
Fast forward to 2023, and Skubal has taken his game to another level, particularly with his changeup. Once a promising pitch, it has now become a nightmare for hitters, boasting an impressive whiff percentage just shy of 50% over the last three seasons, according to Baseball Savant. This pitch has significantly contributed to Skubal’s dominance on the mound.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch highlighted the skill and versatility Skubal brings to the game. “If he just threw all fastballs, he would be hard to time up,” Hinch explained. But it’s the combination of his fastball and changeup that allows Skubal to be unpredictable. He can disrupt the timing of hitters, making him a true three-dimensional pitcher. Whether he’s ahead in the count or needing to be aggressive, he possesses the capability to create movement and induce soft contact. His changeup rounds out his arsenal, transforming him into a dominant force on the mound.
Kerry Carpenter, a career Tiger and outfielder, chimed in on the effectiveness of Skubal’s changeup and why it poses such a challenge for opposing hitters. “It looks like he throws it with the same intent as his fastball,” Carpenter explained, acknowledging the difficulty in hitting against a pitcher who can sell his pitches like that. With the kind of deceptive delivery Skubal has, it’s no wonder Carpenter admitted to struggling against it himself.
In a recent outing against the Brewers, Skubal showcased his skills in a dominant 9-1 victory for the Tigers. He threw his changeup a staggering 34% of the time, outperforming all his other pitches. The result? Nine swings and misses from Milwaukee batters, a testament to just how effective he’s become.
As the season unfolds, Skubal’s development will undoubtedly remain a focal point for the Tigers and fans alike. With each game, he further cements his place among the elite pitchers in baseball, and it’s clear that his future is as bright as his performance.
