Tarik Skubal Shows Support for David Fry, Visits Him in Hospital

In a moment of despair, Tarik Skubal chose sportsmanship.

In the hours after a game that held immense weight in the Detroit Tigers‘ fate, the superstar pitcher put his pride to the side.  

Skubal was charged with the loss in the Tigers’ 5-2 defeat to the Cleveland Guardians that resulted in a tie atop the AL Central. He unraveled in part because, in the sixth inning, he unintentionally nailed Guardians’ designated hitter David Fry in the face with a pitch, and was visibly jarred by the emotional circumstances. 

The loss put the Tigers in a disadvantageous spot as the Guardians hold the tiebreaker. But instead of wallowing in the result, Skubal went out of his way to show support for Fry, who was immediately carted off after being hit by the pitch and did not return to the game. 

Skubal got in contact with Guardians’ manager, Stephen Vogt, and reportedly drove with him to the hospital to check in on Fry. The two chatted, and Fry was reportedly in good spirits. 

Nobody asked Skubal to go out of his way to support Fry, but it’s moments like those that show a player’s character.

The Guardians have provided an update on Fry, who was carted off the field in the sixth inning on Tuesday night after being hit in the face by a pitch as he tried to bunt.

According to the team, Fry sustained “multiple, minimally displaced, left-sided facial and nasal fractures,” which will end his season. However, Fry isn’t expected to have surgery and should make a full recovery in six-to-eight weeks. Fry was recently discharged from the hospital.

As for the play, Fry squared around on a 99 mph fastball from Detroit’s Skubal and the pitch struck him in the nose and mouth area before deflecting off his bat.

As Fry collapsed in the batter’s box and grabbed his face, a visibly shaken Skubal threw off his glove and cap as Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt and trainers rushed onto the field.

Fry laid in the batter’s box for several minutes before being slowly helped to his feet. He was driven off in a cart.

Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, paced around the infield as Fry was being helped. The left-hander then threw a wild pitch to George Valera, who replaced Fry, allowing Cleveland to score. Skubal was also called for a balk in the inning as the Guardians rallied for three runs to take a 3-2 lead.

There was no immediate word on Fry’s condition.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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