Tarik Skubal owning Yankees fan during autograph moment should make Tigers proud

No one would have faulted Tarik Skubal for signing an innocent fan's Yankees hat. Stuff like this happens all of the time. Sports stars of Skubal's caliber attract fandom from all cities, and they're constantly signing an endless barrage of shirts, hats, and other memorabilia belonging to various team affiliations.

This is what made Skubal's downright refusal to sign a Yankees hat lasr week more notable, not to mention more lovable in the eyes of Detroit Tigers fans.

In footage from Instagram that's since gone viral, a dapper and relaxed Skubal can be seen hanging out with fans at the MLB awards. When a young adult fan approaches Skubal with a Yankees cap to be signed, Skubal denies the request. "That's not my hat, get outta here," Skubal tells the fan sternly, before discarding him with a wave of the hand and moving onto other fans nearby.

Tarik Skubal's refusal to sign a Yankees hat should have Tigers fans jumping for joy

Skubal's viral moment is just about the best possible footage you could watch right now if you're a Tigers fan; outside of Skubal signing an extension, of course. The back-to-back Cy Young winner has already made it clear with his words that he doesn't want to be anywhere but Detroit, and his disgust at the sight of a Yankees hat fell right in line with that pledge.

Tigers fans need all of the positive Skubal news they can get these days, and when it comes directly from the source, it's that much better. Everyone who isn't Skubal himself seems to be talking about his future in non-Detroit terms. While the ball is ultimately in the Tigers' court when it comes to retaining Skubal (just pay the guy what he deserves!), all of the rumors and trade buzz surrounding the left-hander are hard for Tigers fans to ignore all of the time, especially when the chatter is coming from MLB insiders.

Despite all the noise, Skubal has cemented his standing with Tigers fans, if his play alone hadn't already done that. It's refreshing to see a guy like Skubal leaning into his loyalty, mostly because players have become far less loyal to their franchises across all sports through the years (and for good reason — the loyalty is rarely reciprocated).

In Skubal's case, he could easily be lukewarm in his feelings towards the Tigers right now and basically take the, "you haven't extended me, and that's insulting" approach. No one would really fault him for that in today's landscape.

But Skubal's different. He realizes that fans have nothing to do with the extension negotiations. He realizes that they all want him in Detroit, just like he wants to be in Detroit. Why let the front office get in the way of that unconditional loyalty?