DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have had one of the best social media teams in baseball over the last couple of years, and they did it again on Wednesday night.
They’re funny. They’re socially aware. They know how to capture a big moment and also when to roast someone who deserves it.
About 20 hours before the regular season was set to begin, the Tigers posted something on social media that was very cool, but at first glance, I thought it was something even better.
The post had a picture of Tarik Skubal, as well as a long statement. The caption reads, “A letter to Detroit, from Tarik Skubal,” with the emoji that shows a hand holding a pen.
It’s got to be an extension, right?
Skubal is coming off an incredible season that culminated with him winning the American League Cy Young, as well as the pitching triple crown. He’s the best pitcher on the planet and the main reason fans are hopeful the Tigers will be back in the playoffs this year.
But there’s an elephant in the room. Skubal is scheduled to hit free agency after next season, in the fall of 2026. Fans obviously want an extension to keep the 28-year-old in Detroit, but his agent is Scott Boras, who notoriously prefers to test the free-agent waters with his top clients.
So while it’s not all up to the Tigers, fans have been very vocal about their desire to keep Skubal in the Old English D.
When I saw a post from the Tigers showing Skubal, with the “signing” emoji and a long statement, my knee-jerk reaction was that they had reached an extension before the start of the season.
Here’s what the message actually said:
DEAR DETROIT,
Even though I’m from a small town in Arizona, we have a lot more in common than you might think
As I’ve learned more about our city it’s clear that Detroit has faced its fair share of adversity,
which has at times put its future in question.
For me...
I only had one offer to play Divison 1 baseball,
some pretty difficult injuries, and other setbacks
that made my future feel uncertain
But this city is resilient and this team is resilient.
The adversity we face makes the eventual greatness
even more rewarding
From a 0.2% chance of making the postseason to hosting playoff games at Comerica Park
From a ninth-round pick to unanimous Cy Young winner.
From a city in crisis to
one of the greatest renaissance stories in America
We are all overcoming the odds.
You believe in us, and we all believe in you
Detroit is a sports town and a slept-on city
You don’t understand this place or the people in it
unless you’ve been here
The grit and the grind
The hustle and the attitude.
The culture and authenticity
But also, a community where neighbors take care
of each other and lift each other up
I felt it more than ever at the end of last season - the way you all showed up and created an electric atmosphere made me feel so proud
to be a part of this community
It’s a new era of Tigers baseball, and we’re building something different.
A new standard has been set, and we’re about to clock in like the blue-collar people of this city So, say what you want about us...
about Detroit…
we have unfinished business,
so...let’s run it back
A letter to Detroit, from Tarik Skubal
Even though it’s not as good as an extension, it’s an amazing message. Part of the reason Detroit has fallen so much in love with recent Lions teams is because they emulate the city, and the Tigers are tapping into that same passion.
Skubal even said “grit.” This man knows his audience.
“A city that doesn’t care about the odds has a baseball team to match.” That was Jason Benetti’s iconic call when the Tigers clinched a playoff spot last year.
If fans weren’t already fired up for the start of this season, Skubal’s letter will certainly do the trick.
