Tarik Skubal Wins 2025 AL Cy Young; Historic Repeat Performance

BREAKING: Tarik Skubal has just secured his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award, marking a historic achievement in Major League Baseball. The left-handed ace for the Detroit Tigers outperformed fellow nominees Garrett Crochet of the Boston Red Sox and Hunter Brown of the Houston Astros in voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

This monumental win positions Skubal as the first pitcher since Jacob deGrom (2018-2019) to claim back-to-back Cy Young Awards and the first AL pitcher to do so since Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000. In the 2025 season, Skubal posted an impressive record of 13-6 with a remarkable 2.21 ERA and an astounding 241 strikeouts over 195.1 innings.

Skubal dominated the league, leading in both Baseball-Reference WAR (6.5) and FanGraphs WAR (6.6), while also topping qualified pitchers in key categories including ERA, strikeout rate (32.2%), lowest walk rate (4.4%), and opponent batting metrics.

Using a blistering fastball that averaged nearly 98 mph and a lethal changeup that limited batters to a mere .154 average, Skubal recorded the most scoreless starts (12) in Tigers history, the highest in the majors since Adam Wainwright in 2014.

In an exclusive interview with MLB Network, Skubal reflected on his journey, attributing much of his success to the organization’s support during his recovery from injury in 2023. “There’s kind of a little bit of a blessing in disguise in getting hurt in that aspect,” he stated, highlighting the growth he achieved during his rehabilitation.

Skubal’s 2025 season was marked by a standout performance against the Cleveland Guardians on May 25, where he pitched a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts, achieving a game score of 96, the best in the AL that year.

As Skubal prepares for the next chapter of his career, there is a sense of urgency surrounding his future. With one season remaining before reaching free agency, the Tigers are under pressure to negotiate an extension with his agent, Scott Boras, whose clients are known for rarely signing extensions close to free agency. If negotiations stall, the Tigers may explore trade options this offseason.

Despite his individual accolades, Skubal’s postseason journey has been bittersweet. 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 3-2 in a dramatic 15-inning battle.

Skubal’s remarkable trajectory from a ninth-round pick out of Seattle University to a two-time Cy Young Award winner serves as an inspiring testament to perseverance in professional sports. “It doesn’t matter where you come from,” he emphasized, motivating young athletes everywhere to take their careers day by day.

As fans rally to celebrate Skubal’s triumph, the baseball world watches closely to see what happens next for the talented pitcher and the Detroit Tigers. Stay tuned for updates on potential contract negotiations and offseason developments.