Tarik Skubal has a lot on the line this year. His next contract. The chance to win a championship. His legacy in Detroit, in perhaps his final season with the Tigers. It was still a pretty easy decision for Skubal to pitch in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA.
Skubal didn't rush into it. He said he "had a lot of conversations with A.J. (Hinch), the team here, my agent" about the different factors at play. He also sought the opinion of fellow Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who was one of the first Americans to commit to the tournament, which kicks off next month in Japan.
"But for me, I take a ton of pride in being able to wear the USA across the chest," said Skubal. "It’s something I’ve never had the opportunity to do, and I take a ton of pride in the United States of America. It’s the best country in the world."
And you never know. The World Baseball Classic is only held once every four years. Skubal is healthy and humming at the moment, and just turned 29, but there's no guarantee that he'll have the chance to pitch in the next one. He wasn't turning this one down.
Skubal said he pulled Skenes aside at the MLB Players Association meetings this offseason and asked him, "What’s your plan, what’s your vibe on all this, what you got on it?" Skenes, who attended the Air Force Academy for two years before transferring to LSU and who has relatives that served in the military, never had any doubt about representing his country in a best-on-best tournament.
Really, neither did Skubal.
"It was pretty easy to convince me because I was already kinda bought-in on it, and he confirmed everything that I thought," Skubal said. "I think it’s great for the game of baseball, too. Just from a fan perspective, when you get to watch something with that kind of atmosphere and electricity in March, I think it’s going to bring a lot of eyes onto our sport in April and May. I think the game of baseball’s in a really good spot, and I think this really helps elevate it."
And selfishly, how could Skubal say no to teaming up with this collection of players and coaches?
"It’ll also be another special thing in my career, being able to just share the clubhouse with all those guys that are at the top of today’s game. They’re all superstars. Getting to come together for one common goal will be pretty special, just to experience. Like, the pitching coach is Andy Pettitte. Clayton Kershaw is on the team. That’s an obvious, like, yeah, I’m excited to get with those guys and just talk," said Skubal.
And win.