The Detroit Tigers ace and two-time Cy Young winner underwent surgery last week to remove loose bodies from his elbow. The team did not reveal an expected timeline for his return, but the typical recovery schedule is about two to three months, dependent on the procedure's extent and the player himself.
However, Skubal's agent, Scott Boras, said over the weekend that it could be an even quicker return. Skubal's surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, used a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure, which Boras referred to as a "Nanoscope" or "Skubal scope" during ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" podcast.
"This is really almost like receiving a shot," Boras said. "We think that's going to be a much shorter period of rehabilitation, and he'll be able to return to performance at just a much, much earlier stage."
The speculation from Boras puts Skubal on a timeline that could have him back before the end of June. The less-invasive surgery would allow him to start throwing again sooner, with less time needed to build back arm strength.
That said, it's in Boras' best interest to hype up his client. Free agency comes after the season, and Skubal is far and away the cream of a mediocre 2027 free agent class.
Skubal's 2025 Statistics
In seven starts this year, Skubal is 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 45 strikeouts against six walks in 43 ⅓ innings. He won the American League Cy Young in 2024 and 2025.
The Tigers are off to a disappointing 19-22 start, though the low bar of the AL Central means they are tied for third place with the Kansas City Royals and just 1.5 games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians. No team in the division has a winning record.