Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale has been named the National League Cy Young Award winner for the 2024 season, becoming the league’s first pitching triple crown winner since 2011. Sale led the NL with 18 wins, 225 strikeouts, and a 2.38 ERA, making him the top choice for the award. He received 26 of 30 first-place votes in the balloting conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
Sale, who joined the Braves for his first season with the team, also earned his eighth All-Star selection and won his first Gold Glove this year. His outstanding performance on the mound solidified his place as one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. Additionally, Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler finished second in the voting, followed by Pittsburgh Pirates righty Paul Skenes, who was selected as the NL Rookie of the Year just two days prior.
In the American League, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal was a finalist for the Cy Young Award after achieving the pitching triple crown with an impressive 18-4 record, 2.39 ERA, and 228 strikeouts. The AL winner was set to be announced later on the same night. Sale’s journey to this prestigious award has been marked by overcoming injuries and setbacks, including missing significant playing time due to surgeries and fractures.
With this win, Sale becomes the eighth Cy Young Award recipient for the Braves organization, joining the ranks of legendary pitchers like Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine. His remarkable performance throughout the season has solidified his place in baseball history as one of the game’s elite pitchers.
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