Tarik Skubal Eyes Additional WBC Starts for USA, 'Things Have Changed'
Now that Tarik Skubal got a taste of the World Baseball Classic, he might want to stick around for at least a second helping.
After striking out five in three innings for Team USA in Saturday's 9-1 win over Great Britain, Skubal told reporters "things have changed" regarding his mindset and he might want to stick around for at least one more start:
"I didn't expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ. 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 and try to figure out a plan for me. But yeah, I don't know either way."
Part of Skubal's plan to prepare for the 2026 MLB season was to make just one start for the U.S. in the WBC before returning to spring training with the Detroit Tigers.
"It's the timing, you know. It's the timing for me," Skubal said on Feb. 26. "If this tournament was in the middle of our season like it is hockey, I'd have no problem throwing both games, you know, throwing as much as I can for Team USA. I'd have no problem."
The fact that Skubal even chose to participate in the WBC was seen as a win for the United States because of what he has at stake next winter. He is set to become a free agent and some early projections have him signing the richest contract for a pitcher in MLB history in the offseason.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters prior to the team's spring game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday that he has spoken with Skubal, but nothing has been decided at this point.
"We agreed to talk again as things settled down a little bit and he got a good night's sleep. He'll wake up and get a good work day in today," Hinch said.
Skubal allowed one run on two hits and threw 41 pitches in Saturday's win over Great Britain. He made two spring starts for the Tigers prior to joining Team USA.
Assuming he remains on a regular schedule to prepare for the MLB season, Skubal's next scheduled appearance would come on Thursday or Friday. The knockout round of the WBC begins on Friday.
If Team USA wins Pool B, its quarterfinal game would be played on Friday. If it finishes second in pool play, the quarterfinal game would be on Saturday.
Logan Webb started the opening game for the U.S. in the WBC on Friday. Paul Skenes and Nolan McLean are scheduled to start the final two games of pool play on Monday and Tuesday.
