Career Timeline of Tarik Skubal: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Tarik Skubal made an impact.

Tarik Skubal is a professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, drafted in 2018 and debuting in MLB in 2020. He has achieved significant recognition, including two American League Cy Young Awards. In 2024, he became an All-Star and the first AL pitcher since 2011 to win the pitching Triple Crown and the Cy Young Award in a full season. He earned another All-Star selection in 2025, solidifying his status as a top pitcher.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

May 24, 1918: Last Tiger pitcher before Skubal to strike out 12 or more batters without issuing a walk

On May 24, 1918, Eric Erickson struck out 12 or more batters without issuing a walk. He was the last Tiger pitcher to do so before Skubal in 2024

1972: Joe Coleman sets Tigers playoff record

In 1972, Joe Coleman set Tigers playoff record with 14 strikeouts which was tied by Skubal in 2025.

1999: Pedro Martinez won AL Cy Young Award

Pedro Martinez won AL Cy Young Award in 1999.

2000: Pedro Martinez won AL Cy Young Award

Pedro Martinez won AL Cy Young Award in 2000.

2011: The year of last full Triple Crown

In 2011, Justin Verlander (AL) and Clayton Kershaw (NL) earned the Triple Crown.

2011: Last AL pitcher before Skubal to capture both the pitching Triple Crown and the Cy Young Award in a full season

In 2011, before Skubal in 2024, the last AL pitchers Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw in the NL captured both the pitching Triple Crown and the Cy Young Award in a full season

2015: David Price's previous arbitration record for a pitcher

David Price held the previous arbitration record for a pitcher with $19.75 million in 2015.

2018: Final Season in Seattle

In 2018, Skubal led the Seattle Redhawks with 106 strikeouts and 56 walks, pitching 80 innings in his final season with the team.

2018: Drafted by the Tigers

In 2018, Tarik Skubal was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the ninth round of the MLB draft.

2018: Drafted by Detroit Tigers and first professional season

In 2018, the Detroit Tigers selected Skubal in the ninth round of the MLB draft, and he spent his first professional season with several teams, achieving a combined 3–0 record and 0.40 ERA.

2018: Jacob deGrom won NL Cy Young Award

Jacob deGrom won NL Cy Young Award in 2018.

2019: Promotion to Erie SeaWolves and Prospect Ranking Improvement

In 2019, Skubal earned a call-up to the Erie SeaWolves and significantly improved his prospect ranking in MLB.com's 2019 Prospect Watch.

2019: Jacob deGrom won NL Cy Young Award

Jacob deGrom won NL Cy Young Award in 2019.

2020: MLB Debut

In 2020, Tarik Skubal made his Major League Baseball debut with the Detroit Tigers.

2020: MLB Debut and First Major League Win

In 2020, Tarik Skubal was recalled to the Tigers and made his MLB debut. On August 29, 2020, he earned his first major league win against the Minnesota Twins.

2020: Shane Bieber won Triple Crown

Shane Bieber won Triple Crown during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.

March 24, 2021: Made Opening Day Roster

On March 24, 2021, Tarik Skubal made the Detroit Tigers' Opening Day roster and was included in the starting rotation.

2023: Development of Elite Changeup

Since 2023, Skubal's best and most used off-speed pitch is a changeup that averages 86 mph with an elite seam-shifted wake, generating the lowest contact rate (55.3%) and highest chase rate (41.2%) of all his pitches.

2024: AL Cy Young Award Winner and All-Star

In 2024, Tarik Skubal was named an All-Star and won the American League Cy Young Award. He also became the first American League pitcher since 2011 to capture the pitching Triple Crown in a full season.

2024: Selected for the All-Star Game

In 2024, Tarik Skubal was selected to represent the Tigers in the All-Star Game, having a 10–3 record, 2.37 ERA, and a league-best 0.90 WHIP at the time of his selection.

2024: Opening Day Starter and Historic Strikeout Record

In the 2024 season, Tarik Skubal started for the Tigers on Opening Day and achieved a historic strikeout record, becoming the first pitcher in Tigers franchise history to strike out 40+ batters through his first six starts with fewer than nine walks.

2024: Juan Soto's previous arbitration record

Juan Soto had previously held the arbitration record with $31 million in 2024.

2024: First Postseason Win

On October 1, 2024, Skubal earned the first postseason win of his career against the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series. He recorded a 1–1 record with a 2.37 ERA and 20 strikeouts across three postseason games.

January 9, 2025: Contract Agreement with Tigers

On January 9, 2025, Skubal and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year, $10.15 million contract, avoiding arbitration.

2025: Statistical Leader

During the 2025 season, Skubal showcased exceptional performance, going 13–6 with 241 strikeouts and leading the AL with a 2.21 ERA. He also led the league in WAR, ERA+, and FIP, and the majors in WHIP, walks per 9 innings, and strikeout-to-walk ratio.

2025: First MLB Pitcher to Reach 200 Strikeouts

In 2025, Skubal became the first MLB pitcher to reach 200 strikeouts, achieving this milestone for the second consecutive season.

2025: Most difficult changeup to hit in the major leagues

In 2025, Skubal had the hardest changeup to hit in the major leagues (.156 batting average against).

2025: Second All-Star Selection

In 2025, Tarik Skubal was named an All-Star for the second time.

2025: Playoff Records Set

In the 2025 postseason, Skubal tied a Tigers playoff record with 14 strikeouts in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Guardians and set a winner-take-all postseason record with 13 strikeouts in Game 5 of the AL Division Series against the Mariners. He also set a record for most consecutive strikeouts in a postseason game with seven.

2025: Second Consecutive AL Cy Young Award

Tarik Skubal won his second consecutive AL Cy Young award in 2025, marking him as the first pitcher to win consecutive awards since Jacob deGrom in 2018 and 2019 in the NL, and the first in the American League since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000.