Stories of baseball players are full of emotion, memories, and dreams. This story is about one such man who almost gave up on baseball for a frustrating reason but is now a Cy Young winner. This is the story of Tarik Skubal and his struggles before making it to the major leagues.

Tarik Skubal has become one of the best pitchers over the past year. Skubal started his journey in the MLB in 2020 with the Detroit Tigers. Since then, he has not looked back. In 2024, Skubal had an ERA of 2.39 with 228 strikeouts and 15 home runs. These stats not only granted him a place in the All-Star lineup but also gave him his well-deserved Cy Young award.

In a recent interview with MLB, Tarik Skubal opened up about his struggles with the major leagues. He said, “Like, I don’t even know if my coaches know this, but I had a meeting that winter. My freshman-year winter- had a good fall, and I was gonna go in there and be like, hey, I can’t afford to go to school anymore. You know, that was my conversation that I just had with my parents, and before I even…told them that. They offered me more scholarship money, which is crazy how life works like that.”

Tarik Skubal almost gave up on baseball during the most important phase of his career. He had a very good season as a freshman and continued to perform well. Even with the scholarship, it was still tough to support his family financially This was very infuriating for Skubal. It became so frustrating that Skubal was about to decide that he would have regretted it.

Tarik Skubal was about to walk to the coaches and tell them that he would no longer be able to play for the team as he couldn’t afford to pay for college. But to his surprise, they already had more scholarship money set aside for him and did not hesitate to help him. This shows that the college believed in his talent as a baseball player. And they backed the right guy. He is just happy that his life played out like that and is grateful for the things that have been given to him.

Tarik Skubal proved that he was right to be backed by winning the Cy Young Award in 2024. Even after all the problems, Skubal did not give up and pushed through. This shows that if we work hard enough for our dreams, we will be able to achieve them.

The crucial role of MLB coaches in supporting players’ success

Major League Baseball coaches handle tasks beyond skill development since they act as mentors alongside motivators and dedicated supporters who guide athletes through demanding situations. Dusty Baker of the Huston Astros is a prime example of this. He is known for his ability to connect with the best of players and understand their needs. This will help them to nurture and grow their talents more effectively.

Marcus Semien received exceptional mentoring from coach Ron Washington through his dedicated coaching approach. Marcus Semien used to have difficulties during his defensive duties. But with Washington personalized his training method which helped him overcome that difficult path. Now, Marcus Semien is one of the top infielders and a top contender for the MVP award. This shows how coaches can help players overcome their difficulties.

The Cleveland Guardians have Terry Francona who demonstrates a model of positive support to his players and fans. He was one of the few people to stand by Shane Bieber during his rough patch. After Shane Bieber suffered injuries and form slumps, he helped in regaining confidence and maintaining focus on long-term growth. These stories prove one thing: talent alone isn’t enough. It takes the right guidance, belief, and resilience to turn potential into greatness.