Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal has had multiple run-ins with MLB teams about sign-stealing strategies involving his pitches.
Tigers’ Tarik Skubal calls out multiple teams for stealing signs during games originally appeared on The Sporting News
Sign stealing has always been a part of baseball, but negative feelings stemming from that strategy have peaked in recent seasons.
The Houston Astros have drawn the most ire from the baseball world for sign-stealing, as it allegedly contributed to their 2017 World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Boston Red Sox were also punished in 2020 for a sign-stealing scandal in which they were implicated over the previous two years, the first of which was also a championship-winning campaign.
History tends to repeat itself, as it did in this case. But the concept of sign-stealing has reared its ugly head once more in 2025, a year that the Red Sox have again been accused of implementing the maneuver.
This season alone, the Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros and San Diego Padres have all been involved in incidents that, at one point or another, have been tied to suspicious behavior from the Red Sox's dugout, whether that activity proved to be illegal or not.
In an Aug. 11 appearance on Foul Territory TV, Skubal said sign-stealing from hitters on second base is "fair game" but that he particularly doesn't like sign-stealing from first- and third-base coaches who fail to remain in their designated boxes along each foul line.
He also mentioned the Red Sox as one of two teams, the other being the Cleveland Guardians, he has previously dealt with when it comes to sign-stealing strategies involving his pitches.
"I don't know why they have a box if they can't just be in it. Because, sometimes, they go way up the line and way up the other line to see things that you shouldn't be able to see when you're playing the game of baseball. So that's the one I have a problem with," Skubal said. "And there's teams that do it. Boston's coach [Jose Flores], they've had me before in Boston. Cleveland has had me before, Sandy Alomar at first base."
"Sometimes they go way up the line to see things that you shouldn't be able to see."
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 11, 2025
Taking advantage of pitch tips is fair game, but Tarik Skubal isn't a fan of when the first and third base coaches aren't in their boxes. pic.twitter.com/QXDo8K8ROi
As far as how he approaches games personally, Skubal remains diligent when it comes to making sure other teams aren't picking up on what he's about to throw.
"I'm very much on it, as far as not tipping my pitches in my bullpen work. One of our video guys watches every single throw I make in a bullpen, watches every throw I make in a game, and we're very back-and-forth on tipping stuff or making sure I'm not tipping pitches," Skubal said. "It's part of the game. If you don't want to do it, don't tip your pitches. I think that that's pretty simple."
Category: Baseball
