Tarik Skubal's latest recovery milestone arrives as Tigers take massive step forward

Tarik Skubal has progressed from surgery to remove loose bodies so quickly that Tigers fans have kind of been waiting for the other shoe to drop. It would only be fitting, given how unlucky this team has been in 2026.

Less than a month removed from the procedure, Skubal was already throwing live batting practice, typically the last step before a rehab assignment. While it was heartening, some of us were anxiously waiting for the "Tarik Skubal has experienced a setback in his progression" announcement ... which never came.

Knocking on the nearest wooden surface after saying this: maybe we can actually have nice things.

On Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reported that Skubal will make his first rehab appearance in High-A West Michigan this Sunday.

Seriously, how is he doing this?

Skubal's initial prognosis was a 2-3 month absence, and some insiders were catastrophizing to the point of speculating that Skubal would not get on a mound again this season. Now, he's on his very last step to return.

The Tigers will probably want to take at least some caution given the surgery, no matter how minimally invasive it might've been, but they can also generally be relied upon to trust their players. If Skubal's feeling okay after a couple starts, why not reactivate him?

Tarik Skubal set to make first rehab start since surgery with Tigers' High-A team Sunday

This news couldn't have come at a better time for Tigers fans — not because we're at our lowest right now, but because our moods are on the up-and-up and this might get close to sending them skyrocketing. The Tigers are 3-0 in June, and although they need to win a few more series early in the month for us to really believe this turnaround is real, our spirits are much higher now than they were throughout all of May.

But getting Skubal back within the next few weeks would do a lot to help bring back hope in full force.

Tigers fans know that Skubal is an absolute dog. He wants to compete, and he's done everything within his power to get himself back as quickly as possible. Still, it's hard to believe. After all of the hullabaloo following the surgery announcement, all of the fear Skubal might never pitch as a Tiger again?

He's proving everyone wrong, and the sun might really be coming out for the Tigers.

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