During an outstanding season, Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch highlighted why left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal is a frontrunner for the Cy Young Award once again. In an era where home runs have become a primary weapon for hitters, the ability to limit long balls has become increasingly vital for pitchers to succeed.
Starting pitchers face immense pressure, knowing one error could end their outing prematurely, forcing a long wait before another opportunity. Hinch emphasized that having a dominant starter like Skubal, who can consistently influence the game‘s outcome positively, is a major asset for the team.
Tarik Skubal’s Journey from Struggles to Elite Performance
Four years ago, Skubal experienced challenges, finishing a season with an 8-12 record despite striking out 164 batters in just over 149 innings. His main difficulty was surrendering too many home runs, conceding 35 in that stretch, which often empowered opponents at crucial moments. The following season showed improvement in home run control, allowing only nine, though his win-loss record remained under .500 at 7-8.
Since then, Skubal’s progress has been striking, compiling a 32-9 record while improving key pitching metrics. Notably, his walks per nine innings dipped from 2.76 to an impressive 1.36 starting in 2023. Winning the American League Cy Young Award last year at age 28 marked a significant milestone in his career. Hinch elaborated on Skubal’s qualities in an interview with Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press.
A.J. Hinch on What Makes Skubal an Ace
Everything. If you draw up a characteristic of a pitcher, especially a starting pitcher, that you want to headline your rotation, he’s going to have it. Whether it’s presence, preparation, stuff, competitiveness, a real feel for pitching on how to utilize his stuff, or adjustments in the game. He’s an ace.
—A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers manager
I rarely make labels for players because sometimes it can be a little unfair, but everything he brings to the table on any given night is either near or at the top of the league. His hunger to be better than the last start is arguably second to none.
—A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers manager
Advanced Pitching Strategy Propels Skubal’s Dominance This Season
Skubal currently holds a 7-2 record with a remarkable 1.99 earned run average, outpacing his previous year’s performance. Analytical data from Baseball Savant indicates that the Tigers’ left-hander has refined how he mixes pitches, now favoring his changeup more frequently at 30.4 percent compared to his four-seam fastball at 27.6 percent.
In his award-winning season, the four-seam fastball was his preferred pitch at 33.2 percent usage, with the changeup following closely at 27.1 percent. This season, Skubal has adjusted his approach, relying on the changeup as his primary out pitch, which has proven effective in striking out batters 31.9 percent of the time.
Looking Ahead: Can Skubal Sustain His Elite Form to Claim Another Cy Young?
With A.J. Hinch’s strong endorsement and clear improvements in his pitching arsenal, Tarik Skubal stands out as a top candidate to earn a second Cy Young Award. His ability to limit home runs and carefully mix pitches has elevated his game, putting him in a prime position to dominate the mound and lead the Tigers toward success.
The upcoming months will be critical for Skubal to maintain this high level of performance, as the pressure of sustained excellence will test his resilience. For Detroit and their fans, another Cy Young victory would cement Skubal’s status as one of the premier pitchers in Major League Baseball and bring renewed excitement to Motown’s baseball scene.