KANSAS CITY -- The news is good on Tarik Skubal, who underwent surgery on Wednesday to remove a loose body from his elbow. The timetable for the Cy Young winner’s return is still somewhat murky, but encouraging.
Skubal is headed to the Tigers’ Spring Training facility in Lakeland, Fla., where he’ll perform at least the early stages of his rehab process. He won’t be able to resume throwing until the surgical incisions heal in his elbow.
Once Skubal begins throwing again, the Tigers will get a better idea how much arm endurance he has lost and how much buildup he’ll need, which will play a large part in how soon he can return to the Tigers' rotation. So, while an aggressive timetable now looks plausible based on the surgery, it’s also premature.
“All reports are positive and optimistic, that it was a simple procedure that we’d talked about,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “They got the loose body out with minimal invasion, and that sets him on the road to rehab. …
“Everyone’s going to want to talk about a timeline. Everyone’s racing to a lot of people that are throwing out timelines. And the reality is the most important step for him is the one that’s right in front of him. He will not resume throwing in the next few days. I don’t know when that day’s going to be. But the next step of rehab is the one that we’re going to focus on, and not some random date in the future that simply would be a guess at this point.”
Even without a firm date just yet, the Tigers at least have reason to look forward to getting Skubal back for a substantial number of starts. That seemed in question when the left-hander went on the injured list Monday and was scheduled for surgery. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the Los Angeles-based orthopedic surgeon who performed Skubal’s flexor tendon surgery in 2022, also did Wednesday’s procedure.
The singular loose body would explain Skubal’s off-and-on irritation all season, and his ability to work through it by shaking out his arm until now. Fortunately, it did not do any damage to ligaments while floating around the elbow.
More injured starters making progress
Skubal wasn’t the only injured Tigers starter with encouraging news. Justin Verlander, sidelined for the last month with left hip inflammation, will face hitters for the first time in his rehab in a two-inning simulated game Saturday.
“Justin has been out a long time, so I would fully expect him to have to do multiple things before getting to Major League games,” Hinch said. “Does tomorrow count as one of those things? Of course, that’s a step in the right direction.”
Casey Mize, out since the end of April with a right adductor strain, threw a bullpen session Friday that Hinch called his best so far. He will likely see hitters, either in a simulated game or a Minor League rehab outing, before he rejoins Detroit’s rotation.
Troy Melton was scheduled for his second rehab start Friday night for Single-A Lakeland as he builds up his arm following right elbow inflammation in Spring Training.