Tarik Skubal Wins Second AL Cy Young Award, Makes History

BREAKING: Tarik Skubal has just been awarded his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award, solidifying his status as one of baseball’s elite pitchers. This announcement comes from the Baseball Writers Association of America on Wednesday, marking a historic achievement for the Detroit Tigers ace.

Skubal, who posted a remarkable 13-6 record with a 2.21 ERA and an astonishing 241 strikeouts in 195.1 innings this season, outperformed fellow nominees Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox and Hunter Brown from the Houston Astros. He becomes the first pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards since Jacob deGrom in 2018-19, and the first AL pitcher since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000.

This season, Skubal led the American League in several key categories, including Baseball-Reference WAR (6.5) and FanGraphs WAR (6.6). His performance also included the highest strikeout rate (32.2%), lowest walk rate (4.4%), and the best opponent batting average against him at .240.

Skubal’s dominance on the mound was highlighted by a remarkable two-hit shutout against the Cleveland Guardians on May 25, where he struck out 13 batters and achieved a game score of 96, matching the highest in the majors for 2025.

In an emotional reaction after receiving the award, Skubal credited the Tigers organization for his development, particularly his lethal changeup, stating,

“I think a lot of it came after I got hurt and rehabbed in ’23…so there’s kind of a little bit of a blessing in disguise in getting hurt in that aspect.”

Despite his individual success, Skubal’s postseason performances have been bittersweet. He started Game 5 of the American League Division Series for the second consecutive year, only to see the Tigers eliminated by the Seattle Mariners in a dramatic 15-inning game, where he left with a 2-1 lead after six innings pitched, allowing just one run and striking out 13 batters.

With one season remaining before reaching free agency, there are growing concerns about Skubal’s future with the Tigers. His agent, Scott Boras, is known for negotiating tough contracts, leading to speculation that the team may consider trade options if an extension cannot be reached.

Skubal’s triumph adds him to an elite group of Tigers pitchers who have won the Cy Young Award, alongside legends such as Denny McLain, Willie Hernandez, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer.

As fans and analysts celebrate this significant achievement, the baseball world watches closely for what comes next in Skubal’s career. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.