Tarik Skubal’s excitement steals the spotlight as Tigers announce Justin Verlander signing

The return of Justin Verlander to his old stomping grounds has created quite the stir in Major League Baseball. The Tigers made it official Tuesday by announcing that the franchise icon is returning on a one-year, $13 million contract. The now 43-year-old Verlander returns to the organization that originally drafted him in 2004, where his Hall of Fame-caliber career began. The move immediately adds a veteran presence and a familiar face as the team attempts to build on a recent step forward.

When the centers were announced earlier this month, fans and players created plenty of buzz in the immediate aftermath, but few reactions stood out more than current Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The newly acquired left-hander took to the social media platform to celebrate the signing, adding some context on how pleased he was for Verlander to join the clubhouse. Detroit baseball had already delivered a lot of excitement, but his response added to the viral moments of the day.

Justin Verlander officially returns to the Detroit Tigers

On Tuesday, the Tigers announced that Justin Verlander will once again pitch for the state of Detroit during the regular season. This one-year, $13 million deal is almost poetic for the former MVP and multi-time Cy Young Award winner. Verlander made his debut with the Tigers in 2005, developing into one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation in the Old English D.

Verlander was traded away in 2017, but later accomplished even more with a few other teams. He won more titles, achieved more career milestones, and kept showing he could play with the best in the world well into his 40s. As he heads back to where it all started, Detroit is looking to his experience and leadership to help guide a burgeoning, young, talented roster back to the postseason.

Tarik Skubal reacts with excitement on social media

Number one on that celebration list was Tarik Skubal, the current guy at the front of the line in the Detroit rotation. Not long after the team announced the signing, Skubal took to X (formerly Twitter) to post an animated reaction that really summed up his excitement. Tigers fans and media outlets latched onto Verlander's exquisite self-portrait.


Skubal also had a particularly weighty quip to offer, given that over the previous two seasons he's risen to become one of the better pitchers in baseball. Now the American League Cy Young winner of 2021, he has been the anchor of Detroit's rotation, and the idea of a Verlander-to-Skubal pairing immediately gained the attention of the fanbase. The respect and love the veteran commands within the game was noted by many supporting Skubal over the weekend.


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