Two 20s: Unanimous Cy Youngs for Misiorowski and Schlittler
Both pitchers were in their first full major league seasons, posting historic numbers to secure the hardware.
By John Ferrari ·
One hundred and five and a half miles per hour. That was the top speed on Jacob Misiorowski’s fastball when he threw it at Pete Crow-Armstrong on June 26, a mark that stands as the fastest ever recorded for a starting pitcher in the era of tracking.
That pitch anchored a season that earned the Milwaukee right-hander a unanimous National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday night. He shared the honor with New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler, who swept the American League vote. Both men were in their first complete campaigns in the big leagues.
Misiorowski, age 24, led the majors in three key statistical categories. He posted a 1.80 earned run average, struck out 252 batters, and held hitters to a .157 batting average. The .157 mark is the lowest for any pitcher with at least 100 innings since 1900. His 0.80 WHIP is the lowest for a full season with 150 innings since Pedro Martinez recorded 0.73 in 2000.
The Brewers’ 24-year-old also threw 1,115 pitches of 100 mph or higher. That total shatters the previous record of 673 set by Jordan Hicks in 2018. He finished the regular season with a 16-5 record. The Baseball Writers' Association of America noted that this is only the third time both league winners were unanimous, joining 2022 and 1968.
Misiorowski’s dominance continued in the postseason. He went 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA during Milwaukee’s 4-1 World Series win over the Tampa Bay Rays. In Game 5, he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings to clinch the title. It is the fourth time in franchise history a Brewer has won the Cy Young, following Rollie Fingers, Pete Vuckovich, and Corbin Burnes.
Across the league, 25-year-old Schlittler matched the feat. He finished with a 14-6 record and a 1.95 ERA. That average ranks third in Yankees history, trailing only Spud Chandler and Ron Guidry. He recorded 239 strikeouts, a figure that tied for second in the American League behind Gavin Williams. This makes Schlittler the second Yankees pitcher to win the award in four years, following Gerrit Cole in 2023.
Schlittler attributed his success to staying healthy and making every start. He viewed the award as a minor goal discussed with teammates during spring training. His performance caps a season where he served as the primary anchor for the Yankees rotation.
The award ceremony also introduced the first-ever Reliever of the Year category. Toronto’s Louis Varland won the AL version after posting a 1.27 ERA and 35 saves in 78 innings. San Diego’s Mason Miller took the NL award unanimously. Miller compiled a 1.67 ERA, 38 saves, and 129 strikeouts in 70 innings.
Both Misiorowski and Schlittler are 25 or younger. According to Sportradar, this makes them the fourth pair of Cy Young winners in that age bracket, following combinations in 1969, 1985, and 2009. The MVP awards will be announced Thursday.
The voting took place before the postseason began. In the NL, Cristopher Sánchez finished second with an 18-7 record, while Chris Sale placed third. In the AL, Dylan Cease finished second for the second time in his career, and Parker Messick took third.
