USA's Tarik Skubal won't pitch again in 2026 WBC despite second thoughts

Tarik Skubal is sticking to original plan after hinting he might return to action for Team USA.

After some deliberation, Tarik Skubal is sticking to his original plan to return to Detroit Tigers spring training after his lone appearance in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa announced on Monday, March 9.

Skubal, the Tigers' back-to-back Cy Young winner, is a free agent after the 2026 season and had always planned to return to spring training in Lakeland, Florida after making his start on Saturday against Britain.

But in the days before the tournament, Skubal stressed how much he was loving the experience and hinted at a plan to regroup with the national team in Miami and at least be a cheerleader. And after his scheduled outing on Saturday in Houston, Skubal explicitly said that "things have changed."

"When you get into these environments, when you get this team, it’s hard to walk away from that," Skubal said after tossing three strong innings in the Americans' 9-1 win over Great Britain.

"I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ. I was pretty committed to making a start and getting back to camp," Skubal said. "Things have changed, obviously, that’s why I’m going to have some conversations to try and figure out a plan for me."