Field Level Media
10 Mar 2026, 06:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)
Tarik Skubal is one-and-done for the World Baseball Classic, as originally planned.
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said Skubal will leave the team to return to the Detroit Tigers' camp in Florida after Monday's game.
This comes after the two-time reigning American League Cy Young winner opened the door to pitching another game for Team USA after enjoying his first World Baseball Classic so much.
Skubal started the Americans' second Pool B game, fanning five and allowing one run on two hits in three innings against Great Britain. He did not receive a decision as Team USA went on to win 9-1.
The left-hander said leaving Team USA was 'one of the tougher decisions I've made in my career,' but explained that the wisest thing was to stick to his scripted spring training schedule, which included just one World Baseball Classic start.
'Obviously, when I got here, my emotions kind of changed a little bit, my thought process changed a little bit and tried to make it work, but just couldn't,' Skubal said. 'And I hate it, but it's all right.'
Skubal said he was 'naive' to how the World Baseball Classic would feel different from an All-Star Game or other exhibition.
'Spending a week with these guys, (it) feels like I've been teammates with them for a very long time,' he said. 'There's no ego in the clubhouse, and everyone has one goal of trying to win. I didn't expect that, I guess.'
It's likely not the last time that one of the best pitchers in the world will don a USA uniform, either.
'I've been trying to make it work -- I promise I have. I love America. I love our country and love everything this tournament is about,' Skubal said prior to Monday's game. 'I'll be the first to sign up for the '28 Olympics if they want to have me and we figure out the timing of it.'
He said he consulted with Team USA captain Aaron Judge, other veterans in the clubhouse, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and his agent, Scott Boras.
Skubal said the 'resounding message' he got from his WBC teammates was that they would support his decision not to pitch again, 'but still be around the team as much as I can.'
'I know what's at stake for him,' DeRosa added. 'I'm over the moon he decided to show in the first place for us -- I really am -- and take the ball for us. I think it meant a lot to a lot of guys in that room. We know where his heart is. If he was in a different situation, he wouldn't be leaving.'
Team USA entered Monday night's game against Mexico 2-0 in pool play, battling unbeaten Italy and Mexico for two berths in the knockout round.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of South America Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to South America Times.
More InformationI think that this war is terrible, said Maggie Morales, a New Yorker. We know that this is something that only benefits him (President...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has drafted strict new guidelines for civilian artificial intelligence contracts that would...
NASHVILLE, Tennessee: A reporter for a Spanish-language news outlet in Tennessee was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The new postmaster general of the U.S. Postal Service had warned in an interview that, unless Congress lifts a decades-old...
CLEVELAND, Ohio: The mother of two young girls who buried their bodies after stuffing them in suitcases in Cleveland was charged on...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A Florida handyman, Andrew Paul Johnson, who U.S. President Donald Trump had pardoned for storming the Capitol on...
(Photo credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images) FIFA Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi said the World Cup is 'too big' and that the...
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images) Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony homered in a five-run third inning Monday night for the...
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images) Tarik Skubal is one-and-done for the World Baseball Classic, as originally planned. ...
(Photo credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images) Fernando Tatis Jr. clubbed a grand slam and Oneil Cruz also homered as the Dominican Republic...
(Photo credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images) Graham Arnold, head coach of Iraq's national soccer team, is requesting FIFA delay the...
(Photo credit: Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Joel Dahmen will have best friend Geno Bonnalie...
