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Back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal was always slated to return to the Detroit Tigers after making one start in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for Team USA.
He even received support from his teammates, who understood why he was leaving the tournament early.
But what Skubal didn’t expect was the backlash from American fans on social media, who have been comparing him to the infamous American traitor Benedict Arnold.
Yes, some have been calling Skubal the equivalent of Arnold, who traded in his American uniform for a British one in the Revolutionary War. Skubal doesn’t think that’s fair, especially considering he didn’t go to another WBC team.
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Tarik Skubal of the United States reacts during a Group B game of the World Baseball Classic against Great Britain at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)
Instead, he returned to his MLB team to continue preparing for a big season ahead of a potential free agent offseason following the 2026 campaign.
“It’s just not fair,” Skubal said of the comparison to Arnold, via The Athletic. “But that’s part of the business. It’s part of the game. However, if you know me on a personal level and know what my teammates think of me, I don’t think it’s fair to say those things.
“This was always the plan, and as emotional as I wanted to (stay) or as much as I wanted to (stay), it just didn’t make sense, given the timing.”
TARIK SKUBAL LEAVES TEAM USA TO RETURN TO TIGERS CAMP DESPITE MIXED FEELINGS AFTER SUCCESSFUL START
It’s perhaps appropriate that Skubal’s start was against Great Britain considering the angle of vitriol he’s received, but he seemed to have doubts about that original plan after pitching in the 9-1 victory.
“I didn’t expect these kinds of emotions to go through my brain or for my thoughts to be different,” Skubal told reporters, according to ESPN. “I was pretty committed to getting started and getting back to camp.
“Things have changed, obviously. So I’m going to have some conversations and try to come up with a plan for myself. But yeah, I don’t know either way.
Team USA’s Tarik Skubal pitches in the first inning during a 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool B game against Great Britain at Daikin Park on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB)
“It’s hard to walk away from that” after celebrating at Daikin Park last week.
But he consulted with coaches and teammates before ultimately deciding to stick with the original plan.
“He’s got the two Cy Young Awards, but this guy is about to make $500 million here next offseason,” US team captain Aaron Judge said, according to USA Today.
“So for him to risk everything for his country and come here and perform for us… You know, maybe it’s just a game, but you know there’s a risk in everything you do, and for him to take that risk and come here and be with us, the guys love it.”
Since then, things have gotten a little tense for Team USA, who were expected to get through Group B with relative ease to advance to the quarterfinals in Miami. Instead, Team USA was surprisingly defeated by Italy, 8-6, on Tuesday night, and their advancement now hangs in the balance.
Tarik Skubal of the United States before his start in a Group B game of the World Baseball Classic against Great Britain at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)
Team USA will watch closely as Italy takes on Mexico in a match that will determine which two teams advance. Team USA needs Italy to win outright or Mexico to win and score five or more runs.
Skubal is likely watching in hopes his U.S. team makes it to Miami. He said he would try to be there if they reach the WBC final on March 17.
