NEW YORK - Former Seattle U and current Detroit Tiger pitcher Tarik Skubal has been named the 2025 American League Cy Young Recipient, as announced by the Baseball Writers of America. The lefty becomes the first AL pitcher to be named the league’s top pitcher in back-to-back seasons since Pedro Martinez did so between 1999-2000.
Skubal posted a 13-6 record in 2025 while setting a new career best with a 2.21 Earned Run Average (ERA). His ERA also led the American League and only trailed Paul Skenes' 1.97 for the best mark in all Major League Baseball. He also led the AL in Walks and Hits Per Inning Pitched (WHIP) at 0.89 and was tied for third in Opponent Batting Average (.200).
The Tiger's ace donned a Redhawk uniform between 2015-18 where he was named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American. He ranks 1st in program history for career wins with 21, while ranking 2nd in strikeouts (224) and 5th in ERA (3.36). He was inducted into the Seattle U Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Along with being the first AL pitcher to win the award in back-to-back seasons since Martinez did so between 1999-00, he becomes just the 12th pitcher in either league to reach the feat since the award's conception back in 1956.
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