Detroit Tigers ace and two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is now recovering from an elbow surgery he had last week to remove loose bodies in the joint.
The Tigers didn’t release a recovery timeline, but most players usually return from this surgery in two to three months. Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, appeared on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” podcast and said the 29-year-old may be able to return faster.
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“This is really almost like receiving a shot,” Boras said of the procedure. “We think that’s going to be a much shorter period [of rehabilitation]… and he’ll be able to return to performance at just a much, much earlier stage.”
Boras said Skubal had a NanoScope procedure that is less invasive than the typical joint clean-up that pitchers get done.
If this is true, Skubal could reportedly return as early as the first week or two of June. This faster recovery time would ensure that Skubal retains most of his arm strength.
Skubal is the reigning AL Cy Young winner and is set to be baseball’s top free agent in 2027, although these lingering injury concerns could affect his negotiations.
So far this season, he’s racked up 45 strikeouts and just six walks in just over 43 innings. Injuries have been the headline of the Tigers’ 19-22 start, so a quick turnaround from Skubal could go a long way.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
