The Detroit Tigers might have just received the most optimistic news possible regarding their ace, Tarik Skubal.
According to super agent Scott Boras, Skubal’s recovery timeline after elbow surgery could be far shorter than initially anticipated.
That’s a huge development for a Tigers team fighting to remain competitive amidst a flood of injuries.
Boras Explains Innovative Procedure Performed on Skubal
During an appearance on ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight” podcast, Boras shared that renowned surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache employed what he called a breakthrough technique to remove a loose particle from Skubal’s left elbow.
“It was a lima-bean-sized fragment that wasn’t close to any ligament. It was situated at the back of his elbow. But it occasionally caused an impingement because it moved around,” Boras stated, as quoted by MLive.
“After reviewing the MRI, Dr. ElAttrache told me, ‘I have a new approach that I believe we can discuss one that would significantly reduce Tarik’s downtime compared to a standard arthroscope.’”
Boras then detailed how the advanced technology operates.
“He can insert this scope, which has a camera on the end offering a 120-degree view, allowing him to pinpoint exactly where the bone chip was. He could perform this without disturbing the tissue the way a typical arthroscope would,” Boras explained.
“Essentially, he entered, located the particle, removed it, and the result was almost as if Tarik had received an injection because the needle is so tiny.”
Could Skubal Return Much Sooner Than Anticipated?
This is where the outlook becomes particularly promising for Detroit.
Typical recovery timelines for such procedures hover around three months, but Boras suggested Skubal might be able to start light throwing much sooner.
“The usual tissue disruption, bleeding, and swelling associated with a conventional arthroscope aren’t present here. This is nearly as minor as getting a shot,” he said.
“The key point is that it permits a much earlier start to rehab and then the buildup to pitching.”
Boras added that the hope is for Skubal to resume throwing in about a week.
If that holds true, the Tigers could sidestep the lengthy ramp-up process often tied to elbow procedures.
Tigers Need Their Ace Back
The timing is critical for Detroit.
The Tigers have been decimated by injuries early in the 2026 season, losing not only Skubal but also Justin Verlander, Casey Mize, Will Vest, and several other key players.
Before getting hurt, Skubal looked every bit like a pitcher capable of winning a third straight Cy Young Award.
According to Boras, the injury itself should not affect Skubal’s long-term prospects.
“The bone chip has no connection to his ligament or any other anatomy. He was still throwing 98 miles per hour. He just needed to reposition the chip occasionally to pitch normally,” Boras said.
“So by removing it through a minimally invasive procedure, he will clearly return to his usual performance levels without any hindrance whatsoever.”
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