Trending Now - Tarik Skubal Updates Progress on Unique Injury Recovery

WHO:

NY Post - Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers pitcher, and A.J. Hinch, manager of the Tigers.

MLB.com - Tarik Skubal, A.J. Hinch, and Jason Beck, senior reporter.

WHAT:

NY Post - Skubal debunked speculation about returning ahead of schedule, stating, "What’s going on right now is kind of unprecedented. I don’t know in the history of the game if there has been a surgery 15 days ago and throwing a one-inning hypothetical start."

MLB.com - Skubal's Thursday bullpen session was a multi-inning session designed to simulate the process of sitting down between innings and ramping back up.

MLB.com - Skubal confirmed he will throw a more normal, between-starts bullpen this weekend in Baltimore, then gear up for another session early next week.

NY Post - Skubal could potentially return from elbow surgery as soon as next week.

MLB.com - Skubal completed a bullpen session 15 days after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery.

MLB.com - Skubal stated he was "relatively close" to game velocity during his bullpen session.

MLB.com - Skubal confirmed he will have a simulated game or rehab start before coming off the injured list.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The bullpen session took place in Detroit, specifically at Comerica Park.

WHEN:

MLB.com - Skubal's next bullpen session is scheduled for the weekend in Baltimore.

MLB.com - Skubal's simulated game or rehab start is planned before he comes off the injured list.

WHY:

MLB.com - Skubal emphasized the need to communicate with doctors and training staff, stating, "I also need to be back and be healthy. It does me no good to come back fast and then something happens and I go back on the shelf again."

MLB.com - Skubal emphasized the importance of being healthy upon return, stating, "It does me no good to come back fast and then something happens and I go back on the shelf again."

HOW:

MLB.com - Skubal treated his bullpen session like a game start, simulating the process of sitting down between innings and ramping back up, then ramping up the fastball closer to game velocity.

MLB.com - Skubal treated his bullpen session like a game start, simulating the process of sitting down between innings and ramping back up.

MLB.com - Skubal aimed for a specific velocity during his bullpen session and successfully hit that target.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 01:42 UTC)

Tigers pitcher Skubal has addressed speculation about his potential early return from surgery, noting that what he's experiencing is unprecedented in baseball history. He recently completed a multi-inning bullpen session designed to mimic the routine of sitting down between innings, and he plans to throw a more typical bullpen this weekend in Baltimore before ramping up for another session early next week. Skubal emphasized the importance of staying in communication with his doctors and training staff, stating that he wants to ensure he returns healthy rather than rushing back and risking further injury.

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(UPDATED May 21, 2026 23:23 UTC)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is on track for a potential return from elbow surgery as soon as next week, following a successful bullpen session he completed just 15 days after the procedure. Skubal, who practiced at Comerica Park in Detroit, reported that he felt "relatively close" to game velocity and plans to have a simulated game or rehab start before coming off the injured list. His next bullpen session is scheduled for the weekend in Baltimore, and he emphasized the importance of returning healthy, stating, "It does me no good to come back fast and then something happens and I go back on the shelf again."