WBC hangover? Not for Paul Skenes as injury bug hits Cy Young peer Tarik Skubal

Yahoo Sports19h ago22 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Paul Skenes, the Cy Young winner, remains injury-free while fellow pitcher Tarik Skubal faces health issues. Injuries are a common concern for pitchers, impacting their careers and seasons.

Key points

Paul Skenes is a Cy Young winner.
Tarik Skubal is facing injury issues.
Injuries are common among baseball pitchers.
Injuries can ruin seasons and shorten careers.

Paul SkenesTarik SkubalPittsburgh Pirates

PHOENIX — Pittsburgh Pirates Cy Young winner Paul Skenes kept talking, but without the slightest hesitation, leaned over, rapping his knuckle against the adjoining locker, knocking on wood.

It’s an uncomfortable subject, one that terrifies every pitcher, but it’s a cold, cruel reality in the baseball world.

Pitchers get hurt. They require surgeries.

Seasons are ruined. Careers are shortened.

“I’ve never really had to deal with stuff like that," Skenes tells USA TODAY Sports. “It’s not something I like to think about."

Yet, on the morning of Skenes’ last start Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks before yielding just two baserunners in eight shutout innings, he was in his hotel room sending a text message to Detroit Tigers two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

Skubal, his Team USA teammate in the World Baseball Classic, underwent elbow surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday to clean out bone chips, which is expected to sideline him about two months.

“I mean, it’s unfortunate," Skenes tells USA TODAY Sports. “I don’t know, I’ve never really had to deal with stuff like that. But he has.

“I’ve seen his routine now, up close and personal in the WBC. He has a really good routine. He’s going to come back, and he’s going to be really good."