Tigers' Tarik Skubal won't pitch another game in World Baseball Classic

Chris McCosky, The Detroit News on Mar 9, 2026

Published in Baseball

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LAKELAND, Fla.— Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch already knew, but he didn’t feel it was his news to break.

Instead, it was Team USA manager Mark DeRosa who announced to reporters Monday that lefty Tarik Skubal would return to TigerTown after Team USA’s game with Mexico on Monday in the World Baseball Classic.

“He’s in a good place,” Hinch said Monday morning.

He had several conversations with Skubal over the last 48 hours, since Skubal made it clear he was considering staying with Team USA for at least one more start.

“I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ,” Skubal told reporters Saturday. “I was pretty committed to making a start and getting back to camp. Things have changed, obviously, that’s why I’m going to have some conversations to try and figure out a plan for me.”

After conversations with Hinch, DeRosa and his agent Scott Boras, Skubal will head back to Tigers’ camp. He is expected to be in Lakeland Tuesday.

“He’s really in a tough spot,” Hinch said. “He’s trying to do everything at the same time and that’s next to impossible.”

Skubal, who threw 41 pitches against Great Britain on Saturday, would be in line to make his next start for the Tigers as early as Saturday, though the Tigers are in Dunedin, Fla., that day and in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday.

Had he stayed with Team USA, the way the schedule worked out, he would likely have lined up for the championship game, if they got that far. That would have put his Opening Day start in San Diego March 26 in jeopardy.

“Listen, Tarik does not deserve any criticism whatsoever,” Hinch said. “I think the emotions are legit because I think everybody cares.”

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