MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — In a move that has stunned the baseball world and sparked fierce backlash, the Minnesota Twins have officially requested that Major League Baseball conduct an immediate drug test on Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, following his overpowering performance that led to a decisive 7–1 victory for Detroit on Sunday afternoon.
Skubal was nearly untouchable on the mound, throwing eight innings of one-hit baseball, striking out 12 batters, and walking none. From the first pitch to his final delivery, the left-hander had the Twins’ lineup swinging at air — and by the seventh inning, the frustration in the Minnesota dugout was visibly boiling over.
Baseball fans across social media did not hold back.
“You just got owned. Period.”
“He trained. You complained.”
But the phrase that caught fire — repeated thousands of times within hours — was the stinging five-word message that fans directed toward the Twins:
“Just Say You Got Beat.”
That exact phrase trended nationwide on X (formerly Twitter), and even made its way into postgame broadcasts, memes, and sports radio debates.
Tarik Skubal, for his part, remained classy in his postgame comments. When asked about the doping request, he simply said:
“I can’t control what other teams say. I know how hard I’ve worked. This is the result of hours in the gym, hours on the field, and hours studying hitters. That’s all.”
His teammates, however, were not as restrained.
“You don’t cry for a drug test just because a guy shoved,” said Tigers catcher Jake Rogers. “This is baseball, not a reality show.”
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch also addressed the issue in his press conference:
“The league has protocols in place. If there’s something to investigate, that’s up to MLB. But let’s not mistake dominance for dishonesty. Tarik is the real deal.”
The controversy has reignited an ongoing debate in the league over when such testing requests are appropriate. While all MLB players are subject to regular, randomized drug testing, teams are permitted to submit formal concerns if they believe a player’s performance may warrant additional review.
So far, MLB has not responded publicly to the Twins’ request.
In the meantime, Tarik Skubal continues to prove himself as one of the most dangerous young pitchers in the game — with a fastball that’s touching 99 mph and command that’s suffocating opponents.
As fans continue to rally behind him, one thing is clear: whether the Twins like it or not, Skubal didn’t just beat them — he humiliated them.
And if dominance alone is now suspicious… perhaps it’s time for Minnesota to look inward before pointing fingers.
