Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal Achieve Historic MLB Pitching Honors
Paul Skenes won 2024 Rookie of the Year and a unanimous Cy Young. Tarik Skubal secured consecutive American League Cy Young Awards, marking significant MLB pitching achievements.
Overview
- Paul Skenes, drafted first overall in July 2023, earned the 2024 Rookie of the Year award, showcasing his rapid and impactful entry into professional baseball.
- Skenes then unanimously won his first National League Cy Young Award, leading the majors with an impressive 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts in his first full season.
- Tarik Skubal achieved a rare feat by winning consecutive American League Cy Young Awards, an accomplishment not seen since Pedro Martinez in 2000.
- Skubal's 2025 Cy Young victory was highlighted by an AL-best 2.21 ERA and 248 strikeouts, demonstrating his continued dominance amidst trade speculation.
- These awards underscore the exceptional pitching prowess of both Skenes and Skubal, who have made significant impacts in Major League Baseball in recent seasons.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story with a celebratory tone, emphasizing the exceptional achievements of Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal. They use highly positive and evaluative language to highlight the players' dominance and historical significance, creating a narrative of triumph and individual brilliance in their respective seasons.
"Paul Skenes’ meteoric rise to the top is complete."
Associated Press"Skubal became the first American League pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez in 2000 while Skenes won his first NL plaque in unanimous fashion when winners were announced Nov. 12."
USA TODAYArticles (4)
FAQ
Paul Skenes' rookie season was historic, as he posted an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings, making 23 starts. No rookie pitcher since 1920 made as many starts with a lower ERA, and he led the National League in ERA, strikeouts per nine innings, and strikeout-to-walk rate.
Tarik Skubal's consecutive Cy Young Awards are rare because no pitcher had achieved this feat in the American League since Pedro Martinez in 2000, highlighting Skubal's sustained dominance and elite performance.
At LSU, Skenes was the 2023 Dick Howser Award winner, D1 Baseball National Player of the Year, and SEC Pitcher of the Year. He led the Tigers to the National Championship with a 13-2 record, 1.69 ERA, and an SEC-record 209 strikeouts, showcasing his dominance before entering the MLB.
In his 2025 Cy Young Award-winning season, Tarik Skubal posted an AL-best 2.21 ERA and 248 strikeouts, demonstrating his continued dominance and elite performance.
Paul Skenes' unanimous Cy Young Award win is significant because it reflects universal recognition of his outstanding performance, leading the majors with a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts in his first full MLB season.
History
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