The Tigers are tied for first place in the American League Central Division

… recovery time for pro athletes is typically 2-3 months. Not what a prime player who will be entering free agency wants, but at least it doesn’t involve damage to muscles or tendons in his pitching arm.
More of a problem for the Tigers, who already are hurting re: starting pitching with an elderly Verlander on the IL and Flaherty stinking up the joint. Their signing of Framber Valdez is looking better and better.

how many pitchers in the past 20 years have gone through their entire careers without requiring arm surgery at least once? It must be a tiny fraction of them.

Then went to college and my pitching elbow hurt for about 15 years afterwards. It's a brutal thing, especially if you throw hard which most do. Skubal has already had 2 major arm injuries: Tommy John surgery in college and another elbow injury. This was just a matter of time and it's why Scott Harris, the Tigers GM didn't sign him to a long term deal. Now he's out 2-3 months but he's being paid 32 mil this season that he was awarded in arbitration. Generational wealth no matter what happens going forward.

until a certain age? Or did you ever throw a slider? It's supposed to be brutal on the elbow, but the repetition of fastball is also highly detrimental.