Pedro Martinez calls Tigers ace Tarik Skubal a bully on the mound in social media post
Pedro Martinez sees the next generation of MLB pitchers. The Hall of Famer sees the difference from his day. They are physically bigger and stronger. Their presence on the mound is just intimidating.
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The Red Sox legend sees the future of pitching in Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes and Detroit Tigers' reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
'Skenes and Skubal: Big, athletic, and unusually flexible—these aren't your typical pitching bodies. They're bullies on the mound, and their presence is absolutely off the charts!'
—Pedro Martinez on X
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal David Richard-Imagn Images
Martinez knows a thing or two about being a presence on the mound. Though undersized, Martinez was fearless on the bump. He recognizes that in Skubal
He called him a bully—and he meant it as a compliment.
That's exactly what Skubal looked like on Sunday night.
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In a national game with a spotlight usually reserved for bigger brands, Skubal took the ball and shut everything down. Seven shutout innings. Thirteen strikeouts. No walks. Just two hits. He didn't pitch to contact.
He just went out there and attacked.
It was one of the most overpowering starts of his career, and it earned him American League Player of the Week honors. It also reminded the rest of the league what fans in Detroit have been watching all season.
Skubal leads the American League in ERA. He's top-tier in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk ratio. And he's not a future star, he's a star of the right now.
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Martinez recognized that this is a pitcher who has finally found his identity. He understands how good he is, and he's going to make sure the rest of the league knows too.
So yeah, Skubal's a bully on the mound. And in Detroit, that's exactly the kind of energy Tigers fans have been waiting for.
Related: Tigers Lose One of Their Hottest Hitters Ahead of Nationals Matchup
Related: MLB Honors Tarik Skubal's Historic Accomplishment Following Dominant Start
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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