Tarik Skubal is arguably the best pitching weapon available among the remaining MLB postseason squads.
On Saturday, the Tigers' ace will take the mound in a decisive Game 5 of his team's series against the Guardians in the ALDS.
Continuing his outstanding 2024 regular season, one which will likely result in the AL Cy Young award, Skubal has cruised through two postseason starts, totaling 14 strikeouts and allowing no runs through 13 innings in wins over the Astros and Guardians.
Here's what to know about Skubal's background before joining the Tigers' organization, including his hometown, high school and college.
MORE: Full MLB 2024 postseason schedule
Where is Tarik Skubal from?
Skubal was born in Hayward, California, but later went to a small high school in Arizona.
He has three older brothers, Tyler, Trevor and Trent, and a younger half-brother, Will.
Tarik Skubal high school
Skubal went to Kingman Academy of Learning, which is in Kingman, Arizona. Per USA Today, the high school had no baseball field, with the team playing in a city park, and his graduating class had just 65 students. Coincidentally, the high school's team name is also the Tigers.
Skubal helped lead the team to the state championship in 2012 and 2013 and pitched a perfect game in the 2014 playoffs, per his college roster page.
Kingman is located along Route 66. The town that has a population around 36,000 in 2024, per World Population Review. Skubal faced long odds on his way to the majors, as he had just one Division I college offer coming out of high school.
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Where did Tarik Skubal go to college?
Skubal took his only offer, which came from Seattle University. Leaving Arizona for the northwest, Skubal quickly became one of the top pitchers on the Redhawks' staff.
However, he missed part of the 2016 season and the full 2017 season due to Tommy John surgery, yet another obstacle in his incredible journey to the major leagues. Over his time at Seattle, Skubal became a potential MLB draft selection with his impressive numbers.
MORE: Breaking down the Tigers' 2024 payroll
Tarik Skubal college stats
In his freshman season, Skubal totaled 68 strikeouts in 83.1 innings while maintaining a 3.24 ERA. He started off even better in his sophomore year in 2016, posting a 2.11 ERA through his first 42.2 innings.
Injuries held Skubal out for the rest of his sophomore season, and he wouldn't return to the mound until 2018. Here's a look at Skubal's year-by-year and total numbers at Seattle University:
| Year | Grade | Games | Wins | Losses | Innings | Earned runs allowed | ERA | Strikeouts | Hits | Walks | Batting average against |
| 2015 | Freshman | 17 | 7 | 4 | 83.1 | 30 | 3.24 | 68 | 69 | 27 | .224 |
| 2016 | Sophomore | 8 | 6 | 1 | 42.2 | 10 | 2.11 | 50 | 32 | 17 | .208 |
| 2018 | Redshirt junior | 19 | 8 | 2 | 80.0 | 37 | 4.16 | 106 | 66 | 56 | .225 |
| Totals: | 44 | 21 | 7 | 206.0 | 77 | 3.36 | 224 | 167 | 100 | .221 |
Tarik Skubal MLB Draft
Skubal was originally selected by the Diamondbacks in the 29th round of the 2017 MLB Draft but opted to return to the Redhawks for another season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. After his redshirt junior season, Skubal was selected by the Tigers in the ninth round of the 2018 draft, and he signed with the team with a $350,000 signing bonus.
Right away, Skubal began to dominate against minor league hitters, proving himself after coming out of a small high school and dealing with injuries. In 2019, he had a 2.13 ERA in 42.1 innings with the Tigers' double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves, and he flew up Detroit's prospect rankings over time.
Skubal made his MLB debut in August 2020, but struggled through his eight appearances that season with a 1-4 record and a 5.63 ERA. However, the pitching repertoire was clearly there for Skubal, and he made the Tigers' opening day roster in 2021 as a starter.
His numbers only got better from there, and now he stands as a true No. 1 ace for Detroit's staff. In 2024, Skubal claimed the first pitching triple crown (led league in wins, ERA and strikeouts) since Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw in 2011.
