Tarik Skubal underwent the so-called ‘nano-scope’ procedure on May 6 to remove a loose body from his throwing arm. The surgery is a new take on the old arthroscopic surgery, which previously saw pitchers sit out two to three months before returning. Skubal, however, is knocking on the door of a rehab assignment less than a month after going under the knife. For a Detroit Tigers team that has struggled mightily in the interim, this is welcome news that may give them a spark of hope that perhaps 2026 isn’t completely lost.
Tarik Skubal Racing To Return From Nano-Scope
The Tigers pulled off a 10-9 win on the road in Tampa on Monday to kick off June with a rare win. Detroit’s normally sleepy offense came to life during that game, smacking a season-high five home runs. That was also the first time since April 16 that the Motown team managed to plate ten runs. Dillon Dingler contributed with two round-trippers, continuing to be a rare ray of sunshine for the team this season. Kerry Carpenter also announced his return from the IL with a shot as well. However, the biggest news on the day may have been made before the first pitch.
Skubal threw a simulated four-inning game. Per Jason Beck of MLB.com, the southpaw tossed 45 strikes out of 64 total pitches. Skubal notched six strikeouts and reportedly only gave up solid contact in two at-bats. According to Skubal, the session went well, telling reporters, “Execution was a lot better. I thought today is who I am on the mound.” When asked when fans might see him begin a rehab assignment, “I don’t know the plan yet, but I’m going to get on game action soon.”
Given that he has been out for less than a month, Skubal won’t need much rehabilitation. While we are in uncharted waters with the nano-scope surgery, removing loose bodies is nothing new to baseball, and once he completes his first rehab outing, we should have a good idea of when he will return to the Tigers’ rotation.
Trade Rumors Won’t Go Away
As of the time of writing, the Tigers’ pitching staff is still decimated, despite the good news around Skubal. Justin Verlander is also going on a rehab assignment soon, likely with Triple-A Toledo. Casey Mize and Kenley Jansen both went on the IL in May, each with groin inflammation. Burch Smith is likewise on the 15-day IL, but all of Reese Olson, Jackson Jobe, Bailey Horn, and Brant Hurter remain on the 60-day.
Add that laundry list of names on the IL to the Tigers’ terrible 23-38 start, and it’s easy to see why so many insiders believe Detroit will trade Skubal before the deadline. Being that the two major headaches for the Tigers this season have been the offense and bullpen, Skubal’s return doesn’t seem like it would suddenly fix this team. It is worth mentioning that the team’s worst stretch of the season came in the aftermath of Skubal going on the IL. Then, after he had that great simulated game on Monday, the team’s bats woke up.
His impending return will give his team some added, and much-needed, confidence, and that may have been a contributing factor in the offensive outburst at Tropicana Field on Monday. However, the team will need to find consistency with the bat and find some answers in the bullpen. Otherwise, Skubal returning from nano-scope surgery simply won’t move the needle for the reeling Tigers. As of the time of writing, it is difficult to make an argument against dealing the impending free agent before the trade deadline. For now, though, the only thing that either he or the team can do is to get him ready for a return to action.
Main Photo Credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
