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. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Baseball Writers Association of America, as Skubal outperformed notable competitors like Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox and Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros.
This historic win makes Skubal the first pitcher to achieve back-to-back Cy Young Awards since Jacob deGrom in 2018-2019 and the first AL pitcher to do so since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. With a record of 13-6, a remarkable 2.21 ERA, and 241 strikeouts in 1951/3 innings, he led the AL in several critical metrics, including WAR and strikeout rate.
Skubal’s performance this season was nothing short of spectacular, featuring a blistering fastball averaging nearly 98 mph and a devastating changeup that limited batters to a mere .154 average. Notably, he achieved a stunning 12 scoreless starts out of 31 games, setting a new record for the Detroit Tigers and marking the most in the majors since Adam Wainwright in 2014.
“I think a lot of it came after I got hurt and rehabbed in ’23,” Skubal stated during an interview with MLB Network. “There’s kind of a little bit of a blessing in disguise in getting hurt in that aspect.”
Skubal recorded double-digit strikeouts in 10 outings, including a two-hit shutout against the Cleveland Guardians on May 25, where he tallied 13 strikeouts in just 94 pitches. His game score of 96 was the highest in the AL for the 2025 season.
Despite his stellar regular-season performance, the postseason proved challenging for Skubal and the Tigers. For the second consecutive year, he started Game 5 of the American League Division Series, only to see the Tigers fall short against the Seattle Mariners in a dramatic 3-2 defeat that extended to 15 innings.
As the offseason approaches, Skubal faces an uncertain future. With only one season remaining before free agency, there are concerns whether the Tigers can negotiate an extension with his agent, Scott Boras, known for rarely securing extensions for clients close to free agency. Trade discussions may become a pressing issue for the Tigers if an agreement isn’t reached.
Skubal’s achievements are a testament to his resilience, overcoming early career injuries and proving his worth as a ninth-round pick from Seattle University in 2018. “It doesn’t matter where you come from,” he reflected, highlighting the unpredictable journey of a baseball career.
As excitement builds around his future, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the Detroit Tigers manage this rising star. Will they secure Skubal for the long term, or will the offseason bring a dramatic shift? Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.