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Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski and New York Yankees starter Cam Schlittler have been named the 2026 Cy Young Award winners, as announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Both pitchers received unanimous votes, marking only the third time in history that both leagues' winners were unanimous in the same year. The last time this occurred was in 2022 with Justin Verlander and Sandy Alcantara, according to Yahoo Sports.
Misiorowski, who debuted in 2025, had a standout season with a 16-5 record and a 1.80 ERA over 30 starts. He also recorded 252 strikeouts and a 5.7 K/BB ratio. His performance was pivotal in leading the Brewers to their first World Series championship. Misiorowski tied for the third-fastest pitch recorded in the Statcast era at 105.5 MPH, as reported by MLB.
Schlittler, also in his first full MLB season, posted a 14-6 record with a 1.95 ERA across 33 starts. He struck out 239 batters and maintained a 4.9 K/BB ratio over 193.2 innings. Schlittler's performance was crucial for the Yankees, especially during a season when key players like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole missed significant time due to injuries. "At the end of the day, the hard work is gonna be the talent," Schlittler said, emphasizing his dedication to improvement, according to Field Level Media.
The 2026 season also introduced the BBWAA Reliever of the Year awards. Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland won the American League honor with 35 saves and a 1.27 ERA, while San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller took the National League award with a 1.67 ERA.
The achievements of Misiorowski and Schlittler highlight a new generation of dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball. Their unanimous Cy Young victories underscore their exceptional performances throughout the season.