Tigers' Tarik Skubal Defends Early Departure from Team USA's WBC Run

Pitcher cites personal reasons and support from teammates for his decision to leave the World Baseball Classic early.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal has faced criticism for leaving Team USA's World Baseball Classic run after only making one start, but he has defended his decision, saying it was not fair to judge him without knowing the personal reasons behind it. Skubal said he consulted with his Team USA teammates, who were supportive of his choice, and that he cannot control the narrative created by those who don't know him personally.

Why it matters

Skubal is set to be a free agent after this season and is expected to secure a lucrative contract, so his decision to leave the WBC early has drawn scrutiny. However, the Tigers likely wanted Skubal to focus on his preparation for the upcoming MLB season, which could have factored into his choice.

The details

Skubal made only one start for Team USA in the WBC before leaving the team. He has heard criticism about his decision, but he said it's "not fair" for people to judge him without knowing the personal reasons behind it. Skubal said he consulted with his Team USA teammates, who were supportive of his choice, and that he cannot control the narrative created by those who don't know him personally.

  • Skubal left Team USA's WBC run following their game against Great Britain.

The players

Tarik Skubal

A pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who left Team USA's World Baseball Classic run early.

Jayson Stark

A reporter for The Athletic who interviewed Skubal about his decision to leave the WBC.

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What they’re saying

“It's just not fair. But that's part of the business. It's part of the game. If they know me, though, and they know me on a personal level, and they know what my peers think of me, I don't think it's fair to say those things.”

— Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers Pitcher (The Athletic)

“No, because a lot of those opinions and narratives are created by people that don't know me, you know? And I think if you ask anyone in the clubhouse, my peers ... you ask any peers in that clubhouse, on Team USA, they've all been pretty vocally supportive of what I've got going on.”

— Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers Pitcher (The Athletic)

What’s next

Skubal is expected to continue preparing for the upcoming MLB season with the Detroit Tigers as he approaches free agency.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges professional athletes can face when balancing personal commitments and team obligations, especially during high-profile international competitions. Skubal's decision to leave the WBC early was supported by his teammates, but the public criticism he has faced underscores the need for greater understanding of the personal factors that can influence an athlete's choices.