In a remarkable achievement, Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal are continuing to add accolades to their individual trophy collections. These two outstanding pitchers in baseball are now focused on achieving success with their respective teams. Skenes, at 23 years old, secured the National League Cy Young Award as a unanimous choice by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Shortly after, Skubal claimed his second consecutive American League pitching honor as a key player for the Detroit Tigers.
While both players are pleased with the recognition, they are also eager for their teams to excel in the upcoming 2026 season. However, uncertainties loom over their futures with their current clubs. Skubal, 28, is approaching the final year of his club control. Although he desires to continue in Detroit, there is a possibility of being traded due to financial considerations, given the significant salary increase he might demand as a free agent. Similarly, Skenes, under team control for the rest of the decade, dismissed reports suggesting he wishes to move on from his team, emphasizing his commitment to winning with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Despite the Pirates’ struggles in the 2025 season, Skenes remains optimistic about the team’s potential, aiming to change the perception of Pittsburgh as an underdog in the league. The 6-foot-6 right-hander, drafted first overall by the Pirates in 2023, led the majors in ERA and strikeouts during his impressive first full season in the big leagues.
Skenes’s Cy Young win came after a strong finish to the season, securing his place as the top choice on all 30 ballots. Skubal, on the other hand, received significant support in the AL with 26 first-place votes. Both pitchers were also All-Star Game starters, a rare occurrence where the Cy Young Awards were won by the two All-Star Game starters in the same season. The MVP awards for both leagues are set to be announced soon, with Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge among the top contenders in their respective leagues.