Tarik Skubal returned to Comerica Park on Friday for the first time since the Detroit Tigers traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers almost one month ago.

It was an emotional homecoming for a pitcher whose entire MLB career had been connected to Detroit before the deal.

The Tigers drafted Skubal in 2018, and he made his MLB debut with the organization in 2020. He went on to spend 6 1/2 seasons with the team.

Before Friday’s game, Detroit played a tribute video honoring its former two-time Cy Young Award winner while Skubal walked toward the dugout after completing his warmups.

Skubal told SportsNet LA via Dodger Blue afterward that the moment brought him to tears.

He was able to reach the tunnel before the emotions became even stronger, acknowledging how meaningful Comerica Park remains after being part of the organization since 2018.

“I think I did cry,” Skubal said.

“If you go watch the video, there were definitely tears. Luckily enough, I was able to make it to the tunnel before more happened. It’s tough. This is a place I’ve known my entire career since 2018. It was special, for sure.”

The reception continued when Skubal took the mound in a Dodgers uniform.

Detroit fans gave him a standing ovation, and Skubal joked afterward that because of the way his last name sounds, he decided to interpret the noise as cheers rather than boos.

“You know, with the last name ‘Skub,’ you don’t know if they’re boos or cheering for you,” Skubal explained.

“I’m going to assume they were cheering for me.”

Once the game began, however, Skubal separated the emotions from his assignment.

The left-hander delivered six innings on only 83 pitches, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven and issuing no walks.

Skubal felt he successfully kept his focus on competing and giving Los Angeles an opportunity to win despite the emotions surrounding his return.

“I think I did a good job of keeping baseball, baseball,” Skubal noted. “Tried to compete and give our team a chance to win. I think you kind of saw the emotions early, but I felt like I did a good job of keeping it baseball. But obviously, this place is special to me.”

He wanted to continue pitching because of his low pitch count, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts chose to give him additional rest after extending him in previous starts.

Skubal had already produced two outings with Los Angeles in which his pitch totals nearly established a new career high.

The Dodgers did not need to push him further Friday.

Los Angeles ended its three-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over Detroit in the series opener.

Since making his MLB debut on Aug. 18, 2020, Skubal has recorded 1,042 strikeouts in 893.1 innings across 158 games (155 starts), ranking 10th during that span.

He reached 1,000 career strikeouts in his final Tigers start on July 29 against the Baltimire Orioles, becoming the fastest pitcher in franchise history to reach the milestone by doing so in only 857 innings.

Skubal’s ability to handle Friday’s circumstances illustrated one of his strongest qualities.

He can acknowledge emotion without allowing it to dictate how he pitches.

That composure is especially valuable for an ace expected to perform in high-pressure environments.

Skubal also combines aggression with control. He trusts his repertoire enough to attack hitters rather than constantly working around them. While his command allows him to remain efficient when everything is working.

His competitiveness is another defining characteristic.

Even after an emotionally draining return, his instinct was to stay in the game longer rather than accept that his work was finished.

Skubal also brings the mentality of a pitcher accustomed to carrying significant responsibility.

He understands how to reset between innings, adjust during an outing and maintain concentration when circumstances away from the baseball itself could become distracting.

Friday offered perhaps the clearest example yet.

Comerica Park remains special to Skubal, but once he stepped onto the mound, his priority was pitching for the Dodgers.