March 7, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; American pitcher Tarik Skubal (27) throws a ball in the first inning against England at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Tarik Skubal confirmed his participation in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) as originally planned.
Team USA coach Mark DeRosa said Skubal will leave the team after Monday’s game and return to the Detroit Tigers camp in Florida.
This comes after the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner enjoyed his first World Baseball Classic so much that he opened up the possibility of playing in another game for Team USA.
Skubal started the United States’ second Pool B game, going three innings against England, allowing two hits and five losses and one run. He was not awarded a decision as Team USA won 9-1.
The left-hander said leaving the U.S. National Team was “one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make in my career,” but explained that the wisest thing would be to stick to his scheduled spring training schedule, which includes one start in the World Baseball Classic.
“Obviously when I got here my emotions changed a little bit and my thought process changed a little bit and I tried to make it work and I couldn’t,” Skubal said. “And I don’t like it, but it’s okay.”
Skubal said he was “naive” about how the World Baseball Classic differs from the All-Star Game or other exhibitions.
“Spending a week with these guys made me feel like I had been teammates with them for a very long time,” he said. “There are no egos in the clubhouse. Everyone has one goal, trying to win. I don’t think I expected that.”
It likely won’t be the last time one of the world’s best pitchers wears an American uniform.
“I’ve been trying to make it work. I promise you, I love America. I love my country and I love everything about this tournament,” Skubal said ahead of Monday’s game. “If they want to have me and we find out when, I will be the first to sign up for the ’28 Olympics.”
He said he consulted with Team USA captain Aaron Judge, other veterans in the clubhouse, Tigers coach AJ Hinch and his agent, Scott Boras.
Skubal said the “resounding message” he received from his WBC teammates was that they would support his decision not to pitch again. “But I’ll still be around the team as much as possible.”
“I know what’s at stake for him,” DeRosa added. “I was really happy that he decided to show for us from the start. I really do, and he took the ball for us. I think that meant a lot to a lot of the guys in that room. We know where his heart was. If he was in a different situation, he wouldn’t have left.”
Team USA entered Monday night’s game against Mexico down 2-0 in pool play and set up two games in the knockout round against undefeated Italy and Mexico.
–Field level media
