MLB Cy Young History in 2026: Schlittler, Misiorowski Unanimously Win Awards

New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler and Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski have made baseball history, unanimously winning the 2026 American League and National League Cy Young Awards, respectively.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the winners Wednesday night, recognizing two outstanding pitching performances that established both young stars among baseball’s elite.

AL Cy Young 

Schlittler, 25, dominated the American League in his first full major league season. He finished 14-6 with a remarkable 1.95 earned run average and 239 strikeouts over 193.2 innings in 33 starts. His performance earned him all 30 first-place votes, giving him a perfect 210 points to win the award.

The Yankees right-hander played a crucial role in keeping New York competitive despite major injuries to key players, including Aaron Judge and several starters. His season also ranked among the best pitching campaigns in franchise history.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease finished second in the American League, while Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick placed third.

NL Cy Young 

In the National League, 24-year-old Jacob Misiorowski delivered an equally impressive campaign for the Brewers. He recorded a 16-5 record, a league-leading 1.80 ERA, and 252 strikeouts over 174.2 innings. Like Schlittler, he received all 30 first-place votes.

Misiorowski's extraordinary fastball velocity and improved command helped Milwaukee secure the National League Central title and ultimately capture its first World Series championship.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez finished second in NL voting, narrowly ahead of Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale.

History Made 

The double unanimous selection marks only the third time in baseball history that both leagues have produced unanimous Cy Young winners in the same season.

The first time occurred in 1968, when Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals and Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers won the NL and AL Cy Young Awards unanimously, respectively.

The more recent occurrence happened in 2022, when Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins and Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros repeated the feat.

With their historic achievements, Schlittler and Misiorowski have ushered in an exciting new generation of dominant starting pitchers in Major League Baseball.