95TH MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 15, 2025

Tarik Skubal

Truist Park

American League

Press Conference

NL - 7, AL - 6 (swing-off 4-3)

Q. Tarik, first successful ABS challenge in an All-Star Game. Did you think that would be your spot?

TARIK SKUBAL: No. Honestly, I wasn't even going to use them, but I felt like that was a strike. Then you want that on an 0-2 count, especially with the way the ball -- the inning was going. The ball kind of finding a lot of grass. So yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think it's coming. Whether players like it or not, it's going to come. Might as well get used to it.

Q. Was that your first instinct, to challenge it?

TARIK SKUBAL: I thought it was a strike. I don't know if I'll ever challenge. I'll probably always leave it up to the catcher because I'm going to think a lot of pitches are strikes that aren't. I'll leave it up to the catcher, let them make those decisions.

Q. Was that something discussed before the game at all with Cal, how you would handle that situation?

TARIK SKUBAL: Challenges?

Q. Yes.

TARIK SKUBAL: No. I told him I'm not going to use it. I was joking around that I was going to burn two of them on the first balls so we didn't have them the rest of the game, but yeah, we didn't really talk about it, to be honest.

Q. You were pretty open about the human element of the game. You appreciate that. To see the way it worked today, you understand that was a pitch that was a strike and it should have been called a strike. That's something maybe where you can be more open to wanting that in the future?

TARIK SKUBAL: Well, yeah. I think if the rule's coming, it doesn't matter what I feel. You have to make adjustments. It's the same thing with the pitch clock. That was a big deal. It's the same thing with the fielding, not being able to shift anymore. It doesn't matter what players feel like. It's part of the rules committee with MLB. That's a little interesting because we don't have much say in our own game.

Whatever they want, they kind of push through, and this seems to be something that they want so it's going to get pushed through regardless. Might as well get used to it.

Q. They've done it in the minors. I'm sure you've seen it happen. Was it as quick as you thought it was going to be, just pretty instantaneous?

TARIK SKUBAL: ABS?

Q. Yes.

TARIK SKUBAL: Yeah. I mean, I'm assuming it's coming next year. I don't know if they've announced anything, but I assume it's going to happen next year. It sounded like they were two years out when we were testing in Spring Training. Two or three years out. They've got to figure out some things. There are going to be some problems I hope they've thought through in terms of if the power goes out and we don't have ABS. Sometimes we don't have Hawk-Eye data or Trackman data. So are we going to expect umpires to call balls and strikes when it's an ABS zone? It's just some interesting things that I hope they think through before they just go full go with it.

Q. They had you mic'd up for the second year in a row. What was it like? Is it tough to pitch when you've got people talking?

TARIK SKUBAL: It was more enjoyable this year. Last year was only static. Couldn't hear a thing but static. This year was more enjoyable. I think the mic up thing, you've got to give me more than 15 seconds. I think the pitch clock, I understand why it's there. But if you want us to have a conversation, it's kind of hard to do it in 15. We're speed dating, you know, for every pitch. It's hard to do that.

It's always a fun environment. It's fun. I don't know how much Cal can talk. The hitter's right there. You can't say, Hey, let's throw a changeup because the guy's right there. But it was a fun deal, and I got a ton of respect for Cal back there. He's great.

Q. What's it like facing Shohei Ohtani in an All-Star Game?

TARIK SKUBAL: Yeah, he's a great player. He's a great player, put a great swing on a pretty good pitch, too. So, I mean, he's such a good advocate for the game of baseball, ambassador. He does everything right. And I'm very appreciative that he's a part of our league because he's the best in the world.

Q. What did you think of the southern hospitality tonight, the crowd tonight?

TARIK SKUBAL: It was good. Great environment. I had two things in so I couldn't really tell when it was getting loud. But, yeah, I think it's a great environment. The introductions were pretty cool with everybody they had on stage. The flyover was pretty special. Anytime you get a flyover like that, it gives you the goosebumps as an athlete.

It was a good environment here. Texas was a good environment. I think next year it's in Philly, right? That will be another good environment. I think they do a great job everywhere they go. Everywhere MLB takes the game, it's always fun to play.

Q. Casey Mize and his journey, you know as well as anybody what he's gone through. From injuries, now being an All-Star. What has it been like to see him? It's been a roller coaster of a career, and now here he's an All-Star.

TARIK SKUBAL: No doubt. I'm proud of him. Everything he's gone through. A lot of downs, injuries. Coming back from injury and not performing the way he's expected to perform, the way he expects of himself, and going into an off-season and kind of revamping his arsenal and coming into Spring Training with not really a spot on the roster. He earned every spot that he's had, every start he's had. He's earned it, and he's earned this moment. I hope he gets in the game in some capacity. I don't know his role or when he's going to throw. I hope he gets in the game. This is a home start for him. Atlanta is close to where he grew up. I know it means a ton to him and I couldn't be happier for him, not only as a teammate, but as a friend.

Q. Tarik, who did you learn from this week?

TARIK SKUBAL: I had a lot of good conversations with Max Fried, actually. We talked for probably two hours today just talking about baseball, different stuff. Going through his career here, obviously, and then kind of where my career's going. He's got a lot of experience and leadership in that aspect, and obviously he's one of the game's best left-handed arms, so you want to talk shop with him.

What he's able to do on the mound, he pitches, like, almost exact opposite of how I pitch. He's manipulating every single pitch. I don't really do that. So it's always fun to kind of pick your brain in that aspect. But, yeah, talking to all these guys, they're all really, really good players. Got a ton of respect, and being able to share the clubhouse with them is an honor.

Q. Did you seek Max out or did he seek you out? How did the conversation happen?

TARIK SKUBAL: We kind of had a unique conversation before the game. When he got here, we picked up on the conversation. I like him a lot. He's a really good dude. I've heard nothing but great things about him in other clubhouses and kind of through the grapevine of baseball.

So I got a lot of respect for him and, obviously, what he's doing in New York in his first season, that's not easy at all. And he's kind of anchored that rotation down for those guys, especially losing Cole in Spring Training. So got a lot of respect for guys that do that. He's been able to perform at an elite level his entire career.