Tarik Skubal named 2024 Tiger of the Year

DETROIT - Ace left-hander Tarik Skubal has been named the 2024 Tiger of the Year by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

He was a unanimous selection.

Skubal turns 28 on Nov. 20, the same day Cy Young winners are announced. It's all but certain that Skubal will be the first Tigers winner since Max Scherzer in 2013.

Skubal led the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39), and strikeouts (228), becoming the first pitcher to claim all three categories in a full season since Justin Verlander (Tigers) and Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) did so in 2011.

Skubal was drafted in the ninth round in 2018, debuted in 2020, and became a regular in the rotation in 2021. After missing 11 months following flexor tendon surgery in 2022, he returned on July 4, 2023, and has been nothing short of dominant since.

In 2023, Skubal posted a 7-3 record with a 2.80 ERA over 15 starts (80 1/3 innings). During the final month of the season, he was nearly untouchable, going 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA over 30 innings, striking out 43 while walking just four. Opponents hit just .135 against him.

Heading into spring, the big question was whether he could pick up where he left off. He did - resoundingly.

"He never assumed everything would just be better. He pushed himself," said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. "He's a very special guy, and he's ours."

The Detroit BBWAA started the Tiger of the Year Award in 1965. Previous winners are listed below.