There are player comps, and then there are full-blown PR detours—and this one has Scott Boras written all over it. As Tarik Skubal tears through the 2025 season, one insider’s decision to slot him alongside Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge lit a match under MLB Twitter. Fans didn’t just question the logic—they questioned the source. And once Boras’ name entered the chat, the conspiracy theories practically wrote themselves.
Being associated with Boras comes with pros and cons, but it looks like the cons outweigh the pros. The Detroit Tigers are on a tear this season, and their pitching, led by Skubal, has been one of the main reasons. With him pitching at a Cy Young-winning level, Skubal is now being compared with big names like Judge and Ohtani. This comparison is not sitting well with fans.
In his recent X post, Jon Heyman hyped up Skubal for the immaculate season he is having. He wrote, “Tarik Skubal has joined the super upper echelon of greatness/domination in Major League Baseball inhabited only by Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and him.” And looking at the season he is having, the hype is real.
Skubal has been spectacular in the 2025 season, posting a 10-3 record, 2.19 ERA, 164 strikeouts, and 0.81 WHIP, ranking among the American League leaders. His recent 11‑strikeout, zero‑walk performance in a 2–1 win over Texas further cements his Cy Young candidacy. Across 127.2 innings, he’s averaging a monstrous 11.56 K/9 and stellar 10.25 K/BB ratio, showcasing elite command and strikeout dominance.
Skubal’s brilliance justifies the hype, as he’s effectively silenced Milwaukee’s lineup and led Detroit to a league-best 60-40 record, bolstering their 11-game AL Central lead. His ability to pitch deep into games with overwhelming strikeout numbers has anchored the rotation and helped snap a six-game skid for the Tigers. Additionally, becoming the fourth lefty ever to have three starts with zero runs, zero walks, and 10+ strikeouts reinforces his elite status alongside legends like Koufax and Kershaw.
Tarik Skubal has joined the super upper echelon of greatness/domination in Major League Baseball inhabited only by Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and him
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 21, 2025
Beyond his Cy Young chase, Skubal’s performance positions Detroit for a potential historic “Double Repeat”, pairing his repeat pitching award with Judge repeating as MVP—a feat never before accomplished in the AL. However, comparing Skubal to superstars like Judge and Ohtani might be premature; while his dominance is undeniable, their impact spans offense, star power, and global appeal. Skubal remains one of the top pitchers in baseball, but Judge and Ohtani still occupy a different echelon of fame.
Overall, Skubal is having a season that few AL pitchers have ever achieved. His elite metrics, leadership of Detroit’s standout campaign, and rightful place in Cy Young conversations make the hype more than justified.
So yes, Skubal might not be signing shoe deals in Tokyo or launching balls into orbit. But he’s doing something just as rare—pitching like a legend in a league obsessed with hitters. In a season where flash often beats fundamentals, he’s made dominance look disturbingly routine. Judge and Ohtani still rule the marquee, but Skubal? He’s rewriting the script from the mound—one strikeout at a time.
MLB fans call out Jon Heyman after Tarik Skubal comparison
There’s bold, there’s brave, and then there’s whatever Heyman just did. In a league where words carry weight, comparing Skubal to baseball’s biggest icons was bound to stir the pot—and it did. Fans weren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for this take, especially when Skubal’s stardom still wears training wheels. Turns out, calling someone elite doesn’t make the internet agree any faster.
If you listen closely enough you can almost hear the sound of Scott Boras’ hand puppeting Jon through his butt.
— Always the Jake (@JacobsFieldRBW) July 21, 2025
“If you listen closely enough, you can almost hear the sound of Scott Boras’ hand puppeting Jon,” one fan didn’t hold back, and neither did the irony. Skubal, a Scott Boras client, just happens to be the latest Heyman hype project to break the sound barrier. From Carlos Correa’s “mystery team” to Eric Hosmer’s market inflation, Heyman’s tweets often double as Boras press releases. When Heyman starts typing, fans already know who’s really pulling the strings
“Ahh, forgot you worked for Boras”—a jab so sharp, it nearly came with agent fees attached. With Skubal now the latest Boras client to get the Heyman halo treatment, fans aren’t surprised. After all, we’ve seen this movie before—just ask Stephen Strasburg or JD Martinez, both once framed as generational bargains. When Heyman talks contracts or greatness, some fans hear Boras whispering sweet nothings through his keyboard.
“No, he hasn’t. No disrespect to Skubs, but he just hasn’t Jon”—a polite jab, expertly delivered. Sure, Skubal’s 2.19 ERA, 164 strikeouts, and 0.81 WHIP are generational stuff. But Judge and Ohtani built empires off consistency, superstardom, and years of elite production. One magical season makes Skubal a force, not yet a fixture in baseball’s Mount Olympus.
“The difference, Judge and Ohtani have many years of success. Any player can have a career year, doesn’t put them immediately in the upper echelon”—a reality check dressed in stats and reason. Skubal’s stats are elite, but also brand new. Meanwhile, Judge has slugged over 50 homers twice and owns a career .981 OPS. Ohtani is a unicorn with 100+ HRs and 500+ Ks since 2021. One dominant year gets you buzz, but real greatness demands a multi-season résumé, not just a summer headline.
“No, he hasn’t. No disrespect to Skubs, but he just hasn’t Jon”—This comment cuts sharper than a slider. Yet Garrett Crochet’s 11–4 record, 2.19 ERA, 165 strikeouts, and 1.06 WHIP nearly mirror Skubal’s elite numbers. Suddenly, the narrative flips: Forget Ohtani and Judge—Crochet is matching Skubal stride for stride in every major category. Maybe greatness isn’t exclusive to Detroit’s ace after all; it’s echoing from Boston, too.
So, was Heyman praising a breakout ace or auditioning for BorasCorp PR? Either way, MLB fans weren’t buying the infomercial. Skubal’s season is undeniably electric, but greatness isn’t just measured in ERA—it’s measured in eras. Until he builds a legacy like Ohtani or Judge, fans will keep receipts and clapbacks ready. For now, the only thing Skubal leads the league in might be unsolicited comparisons.
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