Pirates’ Paul Skenes, Tigers’ Tarik Skubal Win 2025 Cy Young Awards

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal were named the National League and American League Cy Young Award winners, respectively, yesterday, marking a historic night for both young stars.

Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, achieved the rare feat of winning Rookie of the Year one season and the Cy Young Award the next, a distinction only previously accomplished by Dwight Gooden. The 23-year-old led the majors with a 1.97 ERA, striking out 216 batters in 187 1/3 innings despite finishing the season with a 10-10 record. This award solidifies Skenes’s status as a dominant force in Major League Baseball and a key building block for the Pirates’ future. He received all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Skubal secured his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award, receiving 26 of 30 first-place votes. The 28-year-old finished the regular season 13-6 with a league-leading 2.21 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings, anchoring the Tigers’ pitching staff and helping propel them to a playoff berth. Skubal’s performance is particularly noteworthy as he is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, potentially commanding a significant contract on the open market – a situation the Tigers will need to address. You can find more information about the MLB Awards on the official MLB website.

The awards recognize exceptional pitching performances in a season where both Skenes and Skubal demonstrated remarkable consistency and dominance. Officials stated that both pitchers represent the future of the game and are expected to continue their success for years to come. For a deeper dive into pitching statistics, visit FanGraphs.