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.
