Tarik Skubal Returns to Seattle for ALDS Game 5

SEATTLE, Wash. — Tarik Skubal is back in Seattle, ready for the most important game of his career. The Detroit Tigers‘ left-handed pitcher will start Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

This marks a special return for Skubal, who first threw off a mound in Seattle during his college days. His journey began when Elliott Cribby, a pitching coach at Seattle University, discovered the young pitcher at a tournament in Arizona. At the time, Skubal was an unheralded prospect but showed the raw talent that caught Cribby’s eye.

“As a coach, it’s like winning the lottery,” Cribby said. “You could see in his eyes that he was different.” Skubal’s recruitment to Seattle U was unexpected; he initially did not want to move from Arizona where he lived with his family.

Despite his reluctance, Skubal’s father insisted he try out at a Seattle U camp. Family finances meant they had to cover travel and lodging, and when the camp turned out to be indoors on a portable turf mound, Skubal faced another challenge — he had no turf shoes, only his spikes and slides. His father scrambled and returned with oversized K-Swiss sneakers for him to wear.

Cribby decided to offer Skubal a scholarship right there. “I wouldn’t let him leave until he committed,” Cribby said. That decision changed Skubal’s life.

Now, after a stellar regular season, with a 2.21 ERA, Skubal has emerged as the ace of the Tigers. He commands respect on the mound and lost just once in games he started this season. The Tigers won 22 of those games, while they struggled without him.

Skubal recalled his time watching games at T-Mobile Park as a college student. “I was like, ‘This is the coolest place in the world,’” he said, reminiscing about the exciting moments when stars like Félix Hernández would pitch.

Returning to Seattle has sparked a range of emotions for Skubal. He bought tickets for all 34 players on the Seattle U baseball team to watch him pitch in the postseason. “I have dreams of this place,” he reflected. “It’s so good.”

As Skubal prepares to take the mound Friday, he carries his history and a mission to conquer the Mariners, a team he faced often during the season. His presence is a mix of confidence and responsibility that the Tigers lean on in decisive matches.

“He leads us,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, highlighting Skubal’s significance leading up to this critical game. “We’ve got a lot of optimism heading that way because of the presence of Tarik Skubal.”

This is not just about baseball for Skubal; it’s a chance to cement his legacy. “So this place will always have a special place in my heart,” Skubal said, reflecting on his journey from a college athlete to a potential postseason hero.