Paul Skenes has made history by winning his first Cy Young Award, marking him as the best pitcher in the National League. This achievement comes just a year after he was named Rookie of the Year and finished third in Cy Young voting. Skenes received all 30 first-place votes, easily outpacing competitors Cristopher Sánchez and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
With a stellar earned run average (ERA) of 1.97 during his first full MLB season, Skenes joins the ranks of two other Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers—Vernon Law and Doug Drabek—who have also won the Cy Young Award. Over the past two years, he is the only starting pitcher to maintain an ERA below 2.00. Last season, he was impressive with 216 strikeouts, putting him near the top of the league in this key statistic.
Skenes contributed 187.2 innings pitched in 2023, ranking him fourth in the National League. He also led the league with a 2.36 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) score. According to FanGraphs and Baseball Reference, Skenes and Sánchez were practically tied in overall player value, as measured by Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
Considered one of the top pitchers in baseball today, Skenes is likely in the conversation alongside established stars like Tarik Skubal, a two-time AL Cy Young winner. Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington has made it clear that Skenes is not going anywhere for now—he remains under the team’s control for the next four seasons. As the Pirates aim to end a decade-long playoff drought, Skenes is integral to their plans.
Sánchez had a breakout year as well. The Phillies pitcher logged 202 innings with a 2.50 ERA and finished fourth in the league with 212 strikeouts. His consistency marked a significant step forward, earning him a solid place in Cy Young discussions.
On the other hand, Yamamoto, who turned heads with his performance in the World Series, finished the season with a 2.49 ERA across 30 starts. He struck out 201 batters while limiting hits, showing promise as an emerging ace. His recent success comes after recovering from an injury that sidelined him earlier in his career.
Voter preferences showed that about half of the ballots had Yamamoto in third place, while Logan Webb took some votes as well. Other pitchers like Freddy Peralta and Jesús Luzardo also received recognition but didn’t break into the top tier.
Looking back, this season’s awards reflect changing dynamics in Major League Baseball. More pitchers are excelling, making it harder for any single player to dominate the league. This trend speaks to evolving training methods and an increased focus on pitcher health and performance.
For fans and analysts alike, Skenes’ victory is exciting. It raises expectations for his future and that of the Pirates as they work hard to become contenders. This season not only showcases individual talent but also encapsulates a competitive spirit across the league.
For further details on the Cy Young voting process, you can visit the BBWAA website.
Source link
andrew abbott,cristopher sanchez,freddy peralta,jesus luzardo,logan webb,nick pivetta,paul skenes,yoshinobu yamamoto,zack wheeler
