Stunning Update on Tigers' Tarik Skubal Recovery From Surgery

The Detroit Tigers suffered a massive blow when ace Tarik Skubal underwent elbow surgery this month. Or did they? Today, we get another stunning update on Skubal's unheard-of lightning-speed recovery from the procedure. Insider Jon Heyman tells us Skubal is already playing catch—just over a week after going under the knife.

Tarik Skubal is already playing catch, barely a week out of elbow surgery. The operation to remove one loose body was arthroscopic, and he might beat initial estimates of 2 months out. 6 weeks remains possible.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 15, 2026

Skubal had arthroscopic surgery to remove what turned out to be just one loose body from his elbow.

So now, the original two-to-three month recovery time might be whittled to just six weeks. Incredible.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch announced the promising update on Friday:

"It's a unique set of circumstances of him throwing so soon," said Hinch.

Skubal began throwing this week while on a rehab assignment at Single-A Lakeland. He'll first work on lengthening the distance he can throw, and then start ramping up the intensity.

How Tarik Skubal's rehab is working

“It's distance and intensity, and he feels great,” Hinch said. “I mean, I was texting back and forth with him last night, and he was super excited about just the general feeling that it didn’t feel weird. It doesn't feel awkward. It's not guarded. He's, you know — I've seen video of it. We're in touch with him daily about the program, and that sort of freedom mentally and physically, I think, is a great sign.”

Skubal is the back-to-back Cy Young winner in the American League, and is the linchpin to the Tigers' hopes of getting back to the postseason for a third straight year, and this time making more of a run.

This will undoubtedly be Skubal's last year in Detroit, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. And after the Tigers balked at his $32M arbitration figure, offering only $19M (Skubal won his figure), it's clear that the team will not be able to afford to re-sign him.

Skubal is expected to command a contract of at least $400 million on the open market.

He's currently sitting with a 2.70 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP and a 45:6 strikeout to walk ratio in 43 innings.