Tarik Skubal's Fastball Just Hit 98 MPH After Elbow Surgery, and the American League Is Still Not Ready

Alright, Mariners fans, you gotta hear about this because it's wild. Tarik Skubal, the two-time reigning Cy Young winner over in Detroit, made his return to the mound this Saturday, and while the box score might not look pretty, what he did with his arm is absolutely jaw-dropping. This guy came back from elbow surgery way faster than anyone thought possible, and his heater was straight up flying. Get ready, because this is the kind of ace pitching the AL has to contend with.

The "Nanoscope" Effect is REAL, and So Is That Velocity

Remember how Skubal last pitched in the majors all the way back on April 29? Well, he returned after surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow. And get this: they used a nanoscope for the procedure, which apparently cleared the way for this speedy recovery. This could be a game-changer for pitchers across the league, including maybe some of our own in the Emerald City down the line. But back to Saturday, the results were a mixed bag. He took the loss in a 3-1 Guardians win, going 4 ⅔ innings, giving up three runs, with two earned, on five hits, a walk, and four strikeouts. Below his usual standard, for sure. BUT, the velocity? UNREAL. His four-seam fastball averaged 97.8 miles per hour. Let that sink in! His previous season average was 96.6. Even his sinker was averaging 98 against a season average of 96.4. Can you believe that? This dude went under the knife, and his fastball is screaming faster than before. It's absolutely wild.

He's Not *Quite* Cy Young Skubal Yet, But He's Close

Now, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, which is totally fair, right? I mean, it's a pretty aggressive comeback. Skubal was removed after 80 pitches, and that velocity started dipping by the fifth inning, a clear sign he's still building up. Speaking of building, he gave up a home run on an 0-2 count, something that’s only happened five times in his entire career. That tells you he wasn't perfectly locked in. His control and command weren't at his usual Cy Young level either. He wasn't hitting his spots with that incredible ease we're used to seeing. Out of his 80 pitches, 53 were strikes, making for a 66.25% strike rate. That's a small dip from his previous three seasons, where he was consistently above 69%, even hitting 70.3% last year. He only had one minor league rehab start where he threw 54 pitches, so going to 80 on Saturday shows the leap he made.

What's Next for the AL's Speedy Returner?

Skubal's next turn on the mound is set for next Friday, facing the White Sox over at Comerica Park. The best bet is he works up into the 90s in pitch count next time out, and honestly? The American League better be on notice. You know he's aiming to get back to his two-time Cy Young self REAL soon. While we're out here in the Emerald City, building up our own pitching rotation and watching guys like Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh absolutely rake at T-Mobile Park, seeing what an ace like Skubal can do, even coming off the table, sets a wild benchmark. Let's hope our guys are ready for what's coming.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.