Tigers Manager Praises Ace Skubal's Feedback-Driven Motivation

AJ Hinch says Tarik Skubal wants honest criticism to improve his performance.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch revealed that ace pitcher Tarik Skubal is highly motivated by direct feedback, even if it's critical. Hinch said Skubal wants to be "punched in the face" with honest assessments of his performance so he can make adjustments and improve. The manager praised Skubal's willingness to accept criticism as a key factor in the left-hander's rise to stardom over the past few seasons.

Why it matters

Skubal's openness to feedback is an uncommon trait among elite athletes, who often struggle to handle criticism. Hinch's comments highlight how Skubal's mindset has helped him become one of the best young pitchers in baseball, as he consistently bounces back from subpar outings with dominant performances.

The details

Hinch said there are 2-3 times per year when Skubal is "not quite feeling it," and the manager needs to give him direct, honest feedback about his performance. Skubal loves to hear what he's doing wrong so he can fix his mistakes and improve. This mentality has paid dividends, as Skubal followed up eight of his earned run-allowed games in 2025 with shutout performances.

  • In the 2025 season, Skubal followed up eight games where he allowed an earned run with a shutout performance in his next outing.

The players

AJ Hinch

The manager of the Detroit Tigers baseball team.

Tarik Skubal

The ace starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, known for his openness to critical feedback to improve his performance.

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What they’re saying

“You can't BS this dude. There are 2-3 times per year when he is just not quite feeling it, and he's not quite punching out the world or whatever. He wants you to kind of punch him in the face and tell him that he stunk that day, or you didn't like the way he did this.”

— AJ Hinch, Tigers Manager (Foul Territory Podcast)

The takeaway

Tarik Skubal's willingness to accept and act on critical feedback from his manager is an uncommon trait among elite athletes, but it has been a key factor in his rapid rise to stardom. Skubal's openness to improvement through honest assessments of his performance sets him apart and helps explain his consistent dominance on the mound.