Skubal is already a top ace but remains humble, eager to learn from the legendary Tiger king.

Tarik Skubal has reached the peak as a left-handed pitcher, claiming the American League’s Cy Young Award consecutively and making history in arbitration. Still, inside, he remains a boy at heart.

“I’m still young,” he reminded when a reporter started with “You used to be the youngest in the clubhouse,” “I’m 29.”

But when talking about his new teammate and locker neighbor Justin Verlander, Skubal again becomes that Arizona boy admiring the major league ace.

“When I heard the team was discussing Verlander, I got a heads-up and was as happy as a kid,” Skubal said. “He was my childhood idol, and now I get to share a locker room with him. I’ve played with Hall of Fame-level players like Miguel Cabrera, but he’s a position player, so there’s only so much to learn. Verlander is different—I want to achieve everything he has in his career. Being his locker neighbor is truly amazing.”

“If someone told me ten years ago that one day I’d be Verlander’s locker neighbor and part of the same starting rotation, I’d have thought they were crazy. So this is really cool. I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it. Looking at his resume and his impact on me personally, I could talk for another 30 minutes.”

When Verlander walked into the York Marchant Stadium clubhouse with a one-year contract, officially returning to where his career began, Skubal’s feelings were easy to imagine. Even more dramatic, Skubal intended to joke and break the ice but ended up becoming a “guide” for one of the greatest pitchers in Tigers history.

“I said, ‘Hey, want me to show you around here?’ Just a casual joke. But he said, ‘No joke, I really need that.’ I was stunned: wait, when was this stadium built? I thought he’d been here before. I really was just joking. When we go to Comerica Park, I plan to do it again.”

“Then we walked to that corner, and I told him, ‘Hey, your photos are on this wall, some need updating.’ I was just rambling all the way—‘This is the training room, this is the weight room, that’s the field.’ It was pretty wild.”

With Verlander’s return and last week’s signing of free agent Framber Valdez, the Tigers’ starting rotation suddenly sparkles with stars. But Skubal’s ace status remains unchallenged. Manager A.J. Hinch announced Skubal will start the opening game for the third consecutive year—a confirmation of what everyone already knew rather than news.

Skubal is at the top of the league, yet he views Verlander’s comeback as a chance to learn. His first question was?

“He wanted to know how I’d like to address him,” Skubal laughed. “Ver? JV? Justin? That was my first question. Only after that did I start to get to know him as a person.”

“Baseball topics naturally came up. For the next seven months, we’ll spend more time together than with our families. Baseball questions will just come up casually.”

“Today I watched his fastball and asked, ‘Where’s your release point? What are you thinking?’ He gave me a tip, I tried it, but it didn’t quite fit me. One day I’ll find that perfect spot. I think that’s the most valuable part. His presence alone will definitely impact many people here.”