Nobody expected much from Tarik Skubal when the Detroit Tigers called his name in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Coming out of Seattle University, the only school to offer him a scholarship, and recovering from Tommy John surgery, the left-hander wasn’t on many scouts’ radars.
Now, in 2025, Skubal has become the most dominant pitcher in baseball, carrying the Tigers back into the postseason spotlight. With a Cy Young Award already secured in 2024 and another season of dominance in 2025, Skubal has gone from overlooked prospect to one of the faces of Major League Baseball.
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Skubal wasn’t a top prospect out of College
Before he became a Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal was a long shot. Growing up in Kingman, Arizona, he had just one college offer, Seattle University, where he went on to set program records. But an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery in 2017 nearly derailed his career.
The Tigers took a chance in the ninth round of the 2018 draft, more as a developmental arm than a future ace. To Detroit’s surprise, Skubal quickly rose through the system. Within two years, he was ranked among the team’s top five prospects, and by August 18, 2020, he was making his MLB debut against the Chicago White Sox.
The breakout: Triple Crown and Cy Young
What followed was one of the fastest ascents in recent memory. By 2024, Skubal didn’t just put himself on the map; he dominated the American League. That season, he won the pitching Triple Crown, leading all AL starters in ERA (2.39), strikeouts (228), and wins (18).
His efforts earned him a unanimous Cy Young Award, the first of his career and a signal that Detroit had found its ace of the future. Skubal became the first pitcher since Shane Bieber in 2020 to claim the Triple Crown, cementing his place among the league’s best.
Even better in 2025
If 2024 was a statement season, 2025 has been proof that Skubal’s dominance is no fluke. His ERA has dropped even further, his strikeouts are up, and his WHIP has dipped below 0.90. While his win total isn’t as high, his consistency and ability to overpower hitters have made him one of the toughest pitchers in the game.
At just 28 years old, he’s already viewed as a cornerstone of the Tigers’ resurgence and a pitcher capable of leading Detroit for years to come.
A Place in Tigers' history
Skubal is already carving out his spot among Detroit’s pitching greats. Should he add another Cy Young, he’ll join Denny McLain as one of the only Tigers pitchers to win multiple awards. That puts him in the same conversation as Hal Newhouser, Jack Morris, and Justin Verlander, names etched into Detroit baseball lore.
What makes Skubal’s story outstanding is not just his dominance, but how unlikely it all seemed. From a lightly recruited high schooler to a ninth-round gamble, Skubal has turned doubt into dominance, rewriting expectations for himself and the franchise.
October has arrived
The Tigers’ return to October baseball is fueled by the left arm of a pitcher who was once an afterthought. Tarik Skubal has become the ace Detroit desperately needed and the kind of generational talent fans dream of watching. From unknown prospect to Cy Young frontrunner, his path shows that greatness can come from anywhere, even the ninth round.
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