In the midst of a great season, Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch discussed what gives ace lefty Tarik Skubal a chance to win another Cy Young Award. With the home run now a dominant weapon for hitters, finding aces who can keep the ball in the yard has become more difficult.
Few athletes deal with more pressure than starting pitchers. One mistake can send them to the showers early, and they must wait four days for another chance. That’s why having a starter who tilts the game in your favor is so valuable. Hinch made it clear he believes Skubal can win the trophy again.
Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal Declared Cy Young Favorite by Detroit Skipper
Four years ago, Skubal finished a rough season with an 8-12 record. While he struck out 164 in 149.1 innings, the long ball was his biggest issue. He gave up 35 home runs in fewer than 150 innings and often found the sweet spot of opposing bats. The next year, though he posted a 7-8 record, he gave up just nine home runs.
Since then, Skubal has gone 32-9 and has improved across the board. For example, his walks per nine innings dropped from 2.76 over his first three seasons to 1.36 since 2023. Last year, the 28-year-old won the American League Cy Young Award. Hinch spoke to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press about why he thinks Skubal could win it again.
What makes Tarik Skubal special?
A.J. Hinch: pic.twitter.com/JUghihihJV
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) June 12, 2025
“Everything. If you draw up a characteristic of a pitcher, especially a starting pitcher, that you want to headline your rotation, he’s going to have it. Whether it’s presence, preparation, stuff, competitiveness, a real feel for pitching on how to utilize his stuff, or adjustments in the game. He’s an ace.”
“I rarely make labels for players because sometimes it can be a little unfair, but everything he brings to the table on any given night is either near or at the top of the league. His hunger to be better than the last start is arguably second to none.”
Skubal’s 7-2 record and 1.99 ERA put him ahead of his pace from last year. According to Baseball Savant, the Tigers hurler is mixing his pitches more effectively this season. He now throws the changeup most often at 30.4 percent, ahead of the four-seam fastball at 27.6 percent.
Last year, the four-seamer was his favorite pitch at 33.2 percent, while the changeup was second at 27.1 percent. This year, Skubal uses the changeup as his out pitch, which puts batters away 31.9 percent of the time.
Hinch’s words carry weight. Skubal looks even better than he did last season, and the Cy Young Award is again within reach. The question is whether he can keep up this elite performance and bring another trophy back to Motown.