The Detroit Tigers just received a massive sigh of relief, and it's all about their two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal.
When the team announced that Skubal would undergo a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow, the baseball world went into a frenzy. Trade rumors started swirling. Fans began bracing for worst-case scenarios. Injury timelines were being debated everywhere from sports bars to social media.
But as it turns out, the initial reports were a bit off—and in a very good way.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, there wasn't a collection of loose bodies in Skubal's elbow. There was just one. A single "relatively small loose body" was removed, and the procedure was such a success that Skubal could start working out within days. Heyman reports that a return in four to six weeks is realistic, with two months being a conservative estimate.
For a Tigers team that has been decimated by injuries to its pitching staff, this news is nothing short of a game-changer.
Skubal, 29, was off to another dominant start this season, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.70 ERA over seven starts before being scratched from his scheduled outing on May 4. Last year, he captured his second consecutive Cy Young Award by going 13-6 with an AL-leading 2.21 ERA. In seven seasons, all with Detroit, he's 57-39 with a 3.06 ERA across 144 games.
The Tigers' rotation has been hit hard. Alongside Skubal, they've lost Justin Verlander (hip), Reese Olson (shoulder), Casey Mize (groin), and Jackson Jobe (Tommy John surgery). Even one of their healthy starters, Framber Valdez, was hit with a five-game suspension for throwing at Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story.
With Skubal's quick recovery timeline, the Tigers can breathe easier. They may still look to add rotation help from outside the organization, but they won't have to overpay on the trade or free-agent markets. And if all goes well, Skubal could be back on the mound before the All-Star break—a huge relief for a team that desperately needs its ace.