Detroit Tigers fans, get ready for some potentially game-changing news. Ace pitcher Tarik Skubal might be back on the mound way sooner than anyone expected—and it's all thanks to a cutting-edge surgical technique.

Skubal recently underwent surgery to remove a bone chip from his left elbow, an injury that typically sidelines pitchers for anywhere from two to six months. But his agent, the legendary Scott Boras, dropped a bombshell on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" podcast: a new, minimally invasive procedure could cut that recovery time in half.

Here's the breakthrough: The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who used what Boras described as a "needle-sized" device with a camera that provides a 120-degree view. This allowed for pinpoint precision in removing the bone chip without damaging surrounding tissue the way a traditional arthroscope would. "It was like Tarik had an injection, because the needle is so small," Boras explained.

Boras even coined a name for the technique—the "Skubal Scope"—and hinted that the Tigers' lefty could ramp up his return in "less than half" the usual time. While no official timetable has been set, the news is a massive relief for a Detroit rotation that's been hit hard by injuries this season.

Before landing on the injured list, Skubal was electric, posting a 2.70 ERA over 43⅓ innings. If this recovery timeline holds, Tigers fans might see their ace back in action sooner than they dared to dream—and that could be the spark the team needs to turn their season around.