On Wednesday, Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal achieved a remarkable milestone by winning their first Cy Young Awards, forever linking their careers. As a teenager, Skubal had looked up to Sale, one of the premier left-handed pitchers in baseball.
Skubal, who celebrated his 28th birthday on the same day, was honored as the American League’s unanimous choice after an outstanding season with the Detroit Tigers, where he posted an impressive 18-4 record with a 2.39 ERA, leading the league with 228 strikeouts over 31 games.
In the National League, Sale’s comeback story took center stage as he won the award following years of injury struggles. The 35-year-old finished the season with an 18-3 record, topping the league with 225 strikeouts. His ERA of 2.38 over 29 starts was also the best among all qualified pitchers, representing a significant return to form after undergoing multiple surgeries over recent seasons.
“It means a lot. It’s a special night,” Sale remarked after receiving the award. “I just can’t express how thankful I am for everybody that stuck by me. It would have been easy to jump ship and write me off.”
This season, both Sale and Skubal led Major League Baseball with 18 wins, showcasing their dominance in their respective leagues.
In a remarkable show of support, Skubal received all 30 first-place votes in the AL voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Meanwhile, Sale garnered 26 first-place votes in the NL, with the runner-up, Zack Wheeler from the Philadelphia Phillies, receiving four.
Reflecting on their shared achievement, Skubal expressed admiration for Sale: “If you look at his career, it’s no surprise that he’s winning this award. To be able to share this award and win it the same year, and win the same triple crown award in the AL and NL, that’s something that’s really special to me.”
Notably, this marked the first time since 2011 that a pitcher had won the pitching triple crown in both leagues, highlighting the rarity of this accomplishment, which has only happened 25 times in history, each time resulting in a Cy Young Award for the pitchers involved.
Sale’s journey back to the top was not without obstacles. After being traded to the Atlanta Braves last December, he was limited to just 31 starts with the Boston Red Sox from 2021 to 2023 due to injuries, including a time away from the game for Tommy John surgery in 2020. Despite health setbacks, he made a strong comeback, culminating in being named the NL Comeback Player of the Year.
In addition to Sale and Skubal, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes finished third in the NL voting just days after being named NL Rookie of the Year, while Kansas City starter Seth Lugo ranked as the AL runner-up behind Skubal. Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase, with an impressive 47 saves, rounded out the top three in the AL voting.
This season, Skubal not only excelled individually but also contributed significantly to the Tigers’ surprising playoff push. He pitched at least six innings in 25 of his 31 appearances, remaining undefeated in both his first nine and last nine starts of the season. His playoff debut included a stellar performance, recording 17 consecutive scoreless innings before a challenging fifth inning ultimately ended the Tigers’ postseason run.
Sale’s recognition adds to the Braves’ legacy, marking the eighth Cy Young Award for the organization, following a historic period in the 1990s when legends like Greg Maddux and John Smoltz dominated the pitching ranks. Detroit, on the other hand, now boasts six Cy Young Awards, highlighting its rich pitching history.
Both pitchers received bonuses for their achievements in the voting, with Clase earning $150,000, while Sale, Lugo, and Wheeler received $100,000, $100,000, and $50,000, respectively.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
