Imagine the thrill of a pitcher repeating as the king of the mound – Tarik Skubal, the left-hander from the Detroit Tigers, has just clinched the American League Cy Young Award for the second consecutive year, sending shockwaves through baseball fans everywhere. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this back-to-back glory a testament to unmatched skill, or does it highlight some overlooked flaws in how we crown our pitching heroes? Stick around as we dive into the details, and you might discover why this award isn't as straightforward as it seems.
Skubal, a standout for Detroit, joins an elite club of hurlers who've snatched multiple Cy Young trophies. This prestigious honor, voted on by baseball writers, recognizes the best pitcher in each league, focusing on stats like strikeouts, ERA, and overall impact – it's like the Oscars for pitchers, but with more walks and batters faced. He's now the 23rd to achieve this feat, rubbing shoulders with legends such as Roger Clemens, who bagged it seven times; Randy Johnson, the five-time champ; and four-timers like Steve Carlton and Greg Maddux. The list of three-time winners includes Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, Jim Palmer, Pedro Martinez, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander, while two-time victors feature Denny McLain, Bob Gibson, Gaylord Perry, Bret Saberhagen, Tom Glavine, Johan Santana, Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay, Corey Kluber, Jacob deGrom, and Blake Snell. Picture these names as the hall of famers of pitching excellence – Skubal's in their company now, proving consistency isn't just a buzzword.
And this is the part most people miss: Skubal is only the fifth AL pitcher to pull off consecutive wins, and he's the second Tiger to do so, echoing Denny McLain's dominance in 1968-69. Roger Clemens managed it twice – first with the Red Sox in 1986-87 and then with the Blue Jays in 1997-98. Others who chained these awards back-to-back include Jim Palmer for the Orioles in 1975-76 and Pedro Martinez with the Red Sox in 1999-2000. Over in the National League, Greg Maddux reigned supreme for four straight years from 1992-95, and Randy Johnson did the same from 1999-2002. Additional duo winners are Sandy Koufax (1965-66), Clayton Kershaw (2013-14), Tim Lincecum (2008-09), Max Scherzer (2016-17), and Jacob deGrom (2018-19). It's fascinating how some pitchers build dynasties, but does that make Skubal unstoppable, or is there room for debate about the competition?
For the Tigers, this marks the seventh time a pitcher from Detroit has earned the nod, with Skubal joining McLain's two-time club, plus Justin Verlander (2011), Max Scherzer (2013), and Guillermo 'Willie' Hernandez (1984). It's a proud tradition for Motor City fans, but here's a teaser: Could this streak continue, or will rivals dethrone Skubal next season?
Speaking of which, Skubal and Garrett Crochet stood out as the only hurlers appearing on every single ballot, showcasing their undeniable presence in the league. These votes were cast before the postseason began, using a point system that's worth knowing for any baseball enthusiast: first place gets seven points, second nets four, third three, fourth two, and fifth just one. It's a way to rank favorites without overwhelming the process, but some argue it favors the top dogs too heavily – food for thought on fairness in sports awards.
Now, let's break down the 2025 AL Cy Young results in a clear table format, just as they were tallied:
2025 AL Cy Young
| Place | Name | Points |
|-------|-----------------------|--------|
| 1st | Tarik Skubal, Tigers | 198 |
| 2nd | Garrett Crochet, Red Sox | 132 |
| 3rd | Hunter Brown, Astros | 80 |
| 4th | Max Fried, Yankees | 61 |
| 5th | Bryan Woo, Mariners | 26 |
| | Carlos Rodón, Yankees | 5 |
| | Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox | 4 |
| | Jacob deGrom, Rangers | 2 |
| | Trevor Rogers, Orioles | 1 |
| | Drew Rasmussen, Rays | 1 |
And for those curious about the nitty-gritty, here’s the detailed breakdown of the 30 individual ballots from writers across American League cities (each city sends two representatives). It's a great way to see the diversity in opinions – some love Skubal's edge, while others push for Crochet as a close second. For deeper dives into the voting rules, check out the BBWAA Voting FAQ at bbwaa.com/voting-faq/.
| Name | Affiliation | Chapter | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|----------------------|--------------------------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|
| Andy Kostka | The Baltimore Banner | BAL | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Roch Kubatko | MASNsports.com | BAL | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Rogers |
| Rob Bradford | WEEI.com | BOS | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Chris Cotillo | MassLive | BOS | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Chapman |
| Kyle Williams | Chicago Sun Times | CHI | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Rasmussen|
| James Fegan | Sox Machine | CHI | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Rodón |
| Tim Stebbins | MLB.com | CLE | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram | CLE | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Rodón | Woo |
| Jason Beck | MLB.com | DET | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Cody Stavenhagen | The Athletic | DET | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Jesus Linares | Pelota Brava | HOU | Skubal | Crochet | Fried | Brown | Woo |
| Richard Justice | Texas Monthly | HOU | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Anne Rogers | MLB.com | KC | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Pete Grathoff | Kansas City Star | KC | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Woo | Fried |
| Sam Blum | The Athletic | LA | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Woo | Fried |
| Jeff Fletcher | Orange County Register | LA | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Chapman |
| Bobby Nightengale | Minnesota Star Tribune | MIN | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Dan Hayes | The Athletic | MIN | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Chapman |
| Eriko Takehama | Sankei Sports | NY | Crochet | Skubal | Fried | Rodón | Brown |
| Bob Klapisch | NJ.com | NY | Crochet | Skubal | Fried | Brown | Woo |
| Daniel Kramer | MLB.com | SEA | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Adam Jude | The Seattle Times | SEA | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Eno Sarris | The Athletic | SF | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Janie McCauley | Associated Press | SF | Skubal | Crochet | Fried | Woo | Brown |
| John Romano | Tampa Bay Times | TB | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Chapman |
| Luis Murphy | Con Las Bases Llenas | TB | Skubal | Crochet | Fried | Brown | deGrom |
| Stephen Hawkins | Associated Press | TEX | Crochet | Skubal | Fried | Woo | deGrom |
| Evan Grant | Dallas Morning News | TEX | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
| Mike Wilner | Toronto Star | TOR | Crochet | Skubal | Brown | Woo | Fried |
| Mitch Bannon | The Athletic | TOR | Skubal | Crochet | Brown | Fried | Woo |
There you have it – Skubal's triumph is crystal clear, but with Crochet nipping at his heels on many ballots, it's sparking debates. Some might say Skubal's repeat win proves he's in a class of his own, like the greats of yesteryear, while others wonder if the award overlooks flashier stats from competitors. And here's a controversial angle: In an era of advanced analytics, should subjective votes like these still hold sway, or is it time for more data-driven decisions? What do you think – does Skubal truly deserve this honor again, or should Crochet have edged him out? Share your opinions in the comments; we'd love to hear if you're cheering for the Tiger or rooting for a shake-up!
