2025 Cy Young award: Tigers ace Tarik Skubal wins in American League
The American League Cy Young Award winner for 2025 is Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal. He received 26 of 30 first place votes.
Skubal, who turns 29 on November 20, also won the award in 2024, unanimously. The crowning achievement makes Skubal the first repeat winner since the Mets’ Jacob deGrom in 2018 and 2019. He is the first AL pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Young awards since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez with the Red Sox in 1999 and 2000. Additionally, Skubal is now the 22nd pitcher in MLB history to win multiple Cy Young awards. He is only the second Tiger to win two Cy Youngs, joining Denny McLain, who won the award with Detroit in 1968 and 1969.
Skubal prevailed in the voting, conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America, over fellow AL finalists Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox and Hunter Brown of the Astros. Here’s a look at the full vote:
|
Tarik Skubal, Tigers |
26 |
4 |
– |
– |
– |
198 |
|
Garrett Hook, Red Sox |
4 |
26 |
– |
– |
– |
132 |
|
Hunter Brown, Astros |
– |
– |
24 |
3 |
2 |
80 |
|
Max Fried, Yankees |
– |
– |
6 |
20 |
3 |
61 |
|
Bryan Woo, sailors |
– |
– |
– |
5 |
16 |
26 |
|
Carlos Rodon, Yankees |
– |
– |
– |
2 |
1 |
5 |
|
Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox |
– |
– |
– |
– |
4 |
4 |
|
Jacob deGrom, Rangers |
– |
– |
— |
– |
2 |
2 |
|
Trevor Rogers, Orioles |
– |
– |
– |
– |
1 |
1 |
|
Drew Rasmussen, Rays |
– |
– |
– |
– |
1 |
1 |
Last season, Skubal led the American League in ERA and also paced the AL in ERA+ with a mark of 187. He backed that up with an AL-best FIP of 2.45, and his K/BB ratio of 7.30 led all qualifiers in MLB. Skubal also struck out 32.2% of opposing batters, which also led all qualified pitchers, and his WAR of 6.5 was best among AL pitchers. He set a career high with 241 strikeouts in 2025 and posted a quality start in 68% of his trips to the mound compared to an MLB average of 51%.
Any current discussion of Skubal must take into account the trade rumors that have persisted. He enters his walk year in 2026, and it’s possible — although probably unlikely — that the Tigers will look to deal him this offseason before losing him to free agency. This is of course not the club’s only option when it comes to their remaining control over Skubal, especially as parting ways with him likely closes their current competitive window.
For now, though, Skubal’s story is that he has once again been recognized as the best pitcher in the American League.
