Detroit Tigers’ left-hander Tarik Skubal claimed his second consecutive American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, while Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates earned the National League honor, cementing both as MLB’s top pitchers for 2025.

Skubal became the first AL pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Youngs since Pedro Martinez in 2000, securing 26 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America.

While he did not repeat his 2024 pitching Triple Crown—leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA—Skubal nonetheless improved in key areas, posting a 2.21 ERA (down from 2.39) and striking out 241 batters compared to 228 the previous year.

He was also one of just five AL pitchers to throw a shutout this season, recording a complete-game two-hitter against the Cleveland Guardians with 13 strikeouts and no walks. His 94th pitch of that game, a 102.6 mph fastball, marked the fastest pitch of his career.

“It’s an individual award, obviously, but I’m proud of our team,” Skubal said during the televised announcement. “I’m proud of the way we competed this year.”

Despite a September slump that saw the Tigers fall from first place in the AL Central, the team reached the playoffs, defeating the Guardians in the wild card round before losing to the Seattle Mariners in the AL Division Series.

“We went through some adversity late in the season but came back in the playoffs and competed,” Skubal added. “Came up short, but a lot of credit for this award goes to the guys that play behind me and the guys behind the dish, too.”

Skenes Makes History in the NL

Skenes was a unanimous choice for the National League award, adding the Cy Young to the Rookie of the Year trophy he won last season. Only two other pitchers—Fernando Valenzuela (1981) and Dwight Gooden (1984-85)—have won both honors within their first two MLB seasons.

The Pirates’ ace finished 10-10 with a 1.97 ERA, 216 strikeouts, and just 11 home runs allowed. In the voting, he topped Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez, who received all 30 second-place votes. Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished third, despite a remarkable post-season in which he pitched two complete games and appeared in Game 7 of the World Series, helping the Dodgers secure a second consecutive title and earning World Series MVP honors.