In a season that left the baseball world in awe, Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal just completed an unprecedented “doublewhammy”: winning his second consecutive CyYoung Award in 2025, and becoming the first pitcher in the American League since Pedro Martínez (1999–2000) to do so.
Skubal, 28, cemented his status as the “top man” in the AL with a season that was nothing short of spectacular: 13 wins–6 losses, a league-leading 2.21 ERA, and 241 strikeouts in 1951/3 innings of regular season work.
He leads MLB in WHIP (0.891) and a whopping strikeout‑walk percentage of 7.30.
This makes his feat all the more remarkable in history, considering that an AL pitcher hasn’t done it since 2000.
This isn’t just an individual accolade. When a pitcher in the AL wins the CyYoung two years in a row, it’s a testament to absolute dominance in an era where pitchers are incredibly diverse.
Skubal didn’t just make history—he broke the norm, ushering in a new era of pitchers.
“When he’s on the mound, we know we have a chance to win,” the Tigers manager said. “That’s the impact Tarik has.”
For the Tigers—a team building back to a competitive position—Skubal has been a pillar of spirit and performance. Not only did he bring home the individual accolades, but he also instilled in the team the spirit of “winning is not just about words.”
And with Skubal entering the final year of his team-controlled contract, the big question is: “Can the Tigers keep him, or will they have to make a choice?”
The last such appearance was more than 25 years ago: Pedro Martinez won back-to-back CyYoungs in 1999 and 2000. Skubal now goes down in history as “the first AL pitcher since Pedro to do it.”
This raises the question: Will Skubal stop at two consecutive times, or will he continue to increase the number and break more records?
Skubal couldn’t hide his emotions: “Being the first one since Pedro in the AL to do this, it’s unbelievable. But I’m not the complete version of myself yet. I want to go further.”
He also did not hide his desire: “I am willing to exchange any personal title for a championship for the Tigers.”
Tigers fans are ecstatic. They not only celebrate his personal title but also see a clear symbol of faith and hope for the future of the team.
The MLB community also mentioned Skubal as a “clean” player in terms of work — not only power but also technique, discipline and how to influence the team.
One fan wrote on X: “Tarik did not just throw the ball, he threw the belief to the whole of Detroit.”
With this achievement, Tarik Skubal is not just the current leader — he is the one shaping the future. When the Tigers icon stands at the top of the AL, the story is not just “who is outstanding” but “who will stand firm and make a lasting impact”.
If he continues this way, for the Detroit Tigers and MLB as a whole, the 2026 season will begin not with the question “Will Skubal succeed again?” but “What record will Skubal break next?”
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