Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal could recover from arthroscopic elbow surgery much quicker than the usual timeline for the procedure.
"We think that's going to be a much shorter period (of rehabilitation)," Skubal's agent, Scott Boras, told Buster Olney of ESPN. "And he'll be able to return to performance at just a much, much earlier stage."
Boras added that Skubal, who underwent a procedure to remove a loose elbow particle last Wednesday, won't need a full rebuild of his arm strength because Dr. Neal ElAttrache used a less-invasive NanoScope.
"This is really almost like receiving a shot," Boras said, labelling the instrument used as "a Skubal scope."
The Tigers are optimistic the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner could return at some point in early June, according to Olney.
The typical timetable for the surgery is two-to-three months. Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz had loose bodies removed from his right elbow in late April. He's aiming for a return after the All-Star break in mid-July.
Skubal owns a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 45 strikeouts over 43 1/3 innings (seven starts) this year.
The 29-year-old left-hander is slated to hit free agency after this season. He's expected to command the biggest contract for a pitcher in MLB history.
