BREAKING: Tarik Skubal has just secured his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award, solidifying his status as one of baseball’s elite pitchers. The Detroit Tigers ace triumphed over Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox and Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros in voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America, announced today.
This victory marks a significant milestone as Skubal becomes the first pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards since Jacob deGrom in 2018-19 and the first AL pitcher to achieve this feat since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. His impressive 2025 season stats include a record of 13-6, a stellar 2.21 ERA, and an astonishing 241 strikeouts over 195.1 innings.
Skubal dominated the league, leading all qualified pitchers in several key categories: ERA, strikeout rate (32.2%), and lowest walk rate (4.4%). His fastball, which averaged nearly 98 mph, along with a lethal changeup, allowed him to achieve 12 scoreless starts—the highest in MLB since Adam Wainwright in 2014.
Reflecting on his journey, Skubal credited his time spent on rehabilitation after a prior injury for the development of his changeup. “I was able to work on things for extended periods of time on rehab assignments that maybe not necessarily you would have been able to do in a spring training setting,” Skubal told MLB Network.
Despite his personal success, the 2025 postseason was bittersweet. Skubal started Game 5 of the American League Division Series for the second consecutive year, but the Tigers fell short against the Seattle Mariners in a gripping 15-inning battle. Skubal pitched well, allowing just one run in six innings with 13 strikeouts, yet the team ultimately lost 3-2.
As Skubal enters the final year of his contract, speculation arises about his future with the Tigers. With his agent Scott Boras known for rarely negotiating extensions close to free agency, the team may explore trade options this offseason if an agreement isn’t reached.
Skubal’s achievement adds him to an elite list of Tigers pitchers who have won the Cy Young Award, joining legends such as Denny McLain, Willie Hernandez, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer. His journey from a ninth-round draft pick to back-to-back Cy Young winner serves as an inspiration, reinforcing that success in baseball can come from unexpected paths.
Stay tuned for more updates as the offseason progresses and the Tigers determine Skubal’s future.
