Skubal shuts down hitters in first spring live session

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The PitchCom device was blaring to Tarik Skubal as he stepped off the mound.

“Can you hear that?” Skubal yelled to catcher Jake Rogers.

“I don’t hear a thing,” said Rogers, wearing the other end of the PitchCom headset. “My ear is plugged.”

It was a fun moment for the first dress rehearsal for the season for the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner and his longtime catcher. But realistically, the two could’ve gone to radio silence and shut down Tigers hitters just fine in the first live session of Spring Training.

As recently as a few years ago, the concept of pitchers facing hitters in camp before the start of full-squad workouts would have been highly unlikely. But with the throwing that many pitchers do before camp begins, and more hitters looking to see live pitching earlier to get their timing down, it’s no longer quite so crazy.

“I’m always amazed every year by the preparedness of the guys,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We tend to almost slow guys down. We’re starting live [sessions] before the full camp starts for the first time in my career here, and it’s just out of where they’re at throwing-wise. …

“To capture the readiness for everybody is really hard, so [pitching coach Chris Fetter] has got a tough job. But we’re trying to adapt to each individual guy. Some guys have been off the mound three or four times. Some guys have been off the mound 10. We used to kind of match everybody up together and have the same progression to games. It’s not that way anymore.”

Given the choice between another bullpen session and facing hitters, Skubal said, he gladly chose the latter. It has nothing to do with preparing to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, he said. He’s just tired of bullpen sessions and is ready to get reactions from hitters.

“I’ve thrown eight bullpens. I’m over it,” Skubal said.

Gleyber Torres, Jahmai Jones and Hao-Yu Lee had the honor of providing feedback. All three are in camp early to prepare for the WBC, where they’ll compete for Venezuela, Korea and Chinese Taipei, respectively. They might not get a more intimidating at-bat than what they experienced stepping into the box against Skubal on Friday morning on the backfields at Tigertown.

All three swung and missed at least once against Skubal in the 20-pitch session. None made solid contact.

Jones walked out of the batter’s box shaking his head. His role on the Tigers centers on hitting left-handed pitching, but hitting Skubal is a whole other challenge, no matter the setting.

“I’ve never been more motivated to try to win a championship here,” Skubal said.

The possibility of this being Skubal’s final Spring Training with the Tigers -- he’s eligible for free agency next offseason -- has no impact on that motivation. Neither does last week’s arbitration hearing. After a somewhat public offseason that included trade rumors, salary talk and arbitration, he’s back at home on the mound.

“I’m trying to win. That’s where my focus is,” Skubal said. “The business side is done. I’m trying to win, and I want to bring a championship to the city of Detroit. It’s a special place to me.”