Misiorowski, Schlittler win Cy Young awards in unanimous vote
The right-handers were honoured after dominant first full seasons that included a World Series win for Misiorowski.
Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers and Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees were named unanimous Cy Young Award winners on Wednesday. Both pitchers were honoured after completing their first full major league seasons. Misiorowski captured the National League award following a year where he helped Milwaukee win its first World Series. Schlittler took the American League prize, marking the second time in four years a Yankee has won it. The Baseball Writers Association of America said this marks only the third time both league winners were unanimous selections.
Misiorowski, 24, led all of baseball with a 1.80 ERA, 252 strikeouts and a .157 opponents' batting average. He is just the fourth pitcher since 1950 to top the majors in all three categories, joining Sandy Koufax, J.R. Richard and Mike Scott. His .157 average is the lowest for any pitcher with at least 100 innings since 1900. He also posted a 0.80 WHIP, the best mark for a pitcher with 150 innings in a full season since Pedro Martinez in 2000.
The right-hander went 16-5 in the regular season and threw 1,115 pitches at 100 mph or faster, breaking a record tracked since 2008. He then excelled in the playoffs, going 2-0 with an 0.84 ERA in Milwaukee's World Series victory over Tampa Bay. Misiorowski threw 5 2/3 shutout innings in the clinching Game 5 to secure the franchise's first championship. He becomes the fourth Brewer to win a Cy Young, following Rollie Fingers, Pete Vuckovich and Corbin Burnes.
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Schlittler, 25, won the AL award after a season where he went 14-6 with a league-best 1.95 ERA. His ERA is the third-lowest in Yankees history, behind only Spud Chandler and Ron Guidry. He struck out 239 batters, tying him for second in the AL with Toronto's Dylan Cease. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised his pitcher's development in a statement. "Cam had as dominant a season as a starting pitcher can have from start to finish," Boone said.
"He's shown an astonishing amount of growth since we drafted him, and his success is no accident," Boone continued. "Cam has a tireless appetite for hard work and refinement that has allowed his talents to truly flourish. This Cy Young is richly deserved. Cam was the most dominant pitcher in our league and continues to grow into a foundational player for this franchise." Schlittler received all 30 first-place votes from the BBWAA. Cease finished second in the voting, while Cleveland's Parker Messick placed third.
In the National League voting, Philadelphia's Cristopher Sánchez finished second behind Misiorowski and Atlanta's Chris Sale was third. For the first time, the BBWAA also voted on reliever of the year awards. Toronto's Louis Varland won the AL honour after recording 35 saves and a 1.27 ERA. San Diego's Mason Miller was the unanimous NL reliever of the year, posting 38 saves and 129 strikeouts in 70 innings.
With files from The Globe and Mail, Sportsnet and CBC News