Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to return from elbow injury just a month after undergoing new procedure

Disaster struck the Detroit Tigers in early May when it was revealed ace Tarik Skubal would undergo surgery on his left elbow. While early reports estimated the procedure would keep Skubal out 4-to-6 weeks, the history of elbow injuries in the sport suggested it would be much, much longer than that.

Fast forward to five weeks after that procedure, and Skubal is actually ready to make his return. The 29-year-old ace is expected to take the mound versus the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Thursday.

It's quite the return for Skubal, though shouldn't come as a major surprise. Skubal was able to make his first rehab start Sunday, paving the way for Saturday's return.

Additionally, Skubal's recovery timeline was so abbreviated thanks to the lefty undergoing a new procedure on his elbow. This procedure — which was described by Skubal's agent, Scott Boras, as similar to an injection — involved using a needle-sized scope and camera to clear bone spurs from the elbow. It's considered less invasive than normal elbow procedures, as it doesn't interrupt the issue in the elbow.

Assuming Skubal is able to return and pitch at close to his normal level, the new procedure could serve as a revolutionary development for pitchers dealing with bone spurs. Any arm injury usually requires months of recovery and rehab for pitchers. Skubal coming back so soon from an elbow issue — even a minimal one — is a massive development.

Skubal's return should come as welcome news for the Tigers and every other MLB team. The Tigers will obviously be happy to get their ace back, but every other team will be happy to have the season's biggest trade chip back on the block.

The Tigers went into a tailspin in Skubal's absence and sit at 28-40 entering play Thursday. With the playoffs looking highly unlikely, the team could trade Skubal away at the deadline for future contributors. Skubal is in the final year of team control, and is expected to draw a massive, potentially record-breaking contract once he hits the free-agent market.

Given Skubal's upcoming free-agent foray, the lefty won't bring back a massive haul this July. Still, if he can pitch up to his expectations, the Tigers will receive far more for Skubal than the team expected once he went down with his injury in early May.