Detroit City Wire

Following a remarkable season, left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal has been unanimously named Tiger of the Year by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. This accolade comes after Skubal's exceptional performance during his fourth full Major League season.

Skubal, drafted in the ninth round of the 2018 MLB Draft from Seattle University, led several American League categories this year. He topped the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39), FIP (2.51), OPS against (.558), strikeouts (228), and strikeout rate (30.3%). He also ranked tied for third in walk rate (4.6%) and tied for fifth in home run rate (2.0%).

His 18 victories are the most by a Tigers pitcher since Max Scherzer achieved the same number in 2014, while his ERA is second only to Mark Fidrych's 2.34 from 1976 over the past five decades. According to Fangraphs, Skubal joins Justin Verlander as one of two Detroit pitchers since 1971 to accumulate at least 5.9 fWAR at age 27 or younger.

Skubal's impressive season also earned him the American League Pitching Triple Crown, a feat last accomplished by Shane Bieber in 2020 and last achieved in a full season by Justin Verlander in 2011. Apart from Skubal and Verlander, Hal Newhouser is the only other Detroit pitcher to win this honor, doing so in 1945.

The Detroit BBWAA chapter has recognized a Tiger of the Year annually since 1965. Skubal becomes the fifteenth pitcher to receive this recognition and is the first since Matthew Boyd in 2019.