Jacob Misiorowski and Cam Schlittler, the two most dominant starters in baseball in 2026, were named unanimous Cy Young Award winners Wednesday.
Misiorowski, the ace of the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers, took all 30 first-place votes for the National League honor, finishing ahead of Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies and Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves.
Schlittler, the New York Yankees' breakout No. 1 starter, swept the American League award, with Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays in second place and Parker Messick of the Cleveland Guardians in third.
Both drafted in 2022, Misiorowski and Schlittler made their major league debuts three years later, and in 2026, they dominated in their first full seasons at the highest level, posting the only sub-2.00 ERAs among qualifiers.
Misiorowski, 24, went 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 252 strikeouts in 30 starts across 174⅔ innings -- leading the majors in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts -- as the Brewers won an MLB-best 103 games. His 6.6 fWAR led all pitchers. His 232 ERA+ was the best for a full season since Pedro Martinez recorded a 291 ERA+ in 2000.
He became the fourth Cy Young Award winner in Brewers franchise history, joining Corbin Burnes (2021), Pete Vuckovich (1982), and Rollie Fingers (1981). He is the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 2001 to win the Cy Young and World Series in the same season.
The historic performance was fueled by unprecedented velocity. Misiorowski threw more than 1,000 pitches at 100 mph or faster this season -- more than double the record Jordan Hicks set in 2018. He threw more pitches at 101 mph or faster than every other pitcher combined from 2008 through 2026. His fastest pitch, a 105.5 mph heater in June against Pete Crow-Armstrong, was the fastest pitch ever thrown by a starting pitcher in the Statcast Era.
The 6-foot-7 Misiorowski took the league by storm as a rookie in 2025, controversially making the NL All-Star team as a replacement after just five starts. He struggled down the stretch, however, with a 5.36 ERA over his final 10 outings before compiling a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings across three relief appearances in the postseason. This year, he harnessed the heat.
Misiorowski carried a 3.31 ERA over his first six starts through April before establishing himself as the best pitcher in the sport with a 1.46 ERA in 142 innings over his final 24 starts. The stretch included a one-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts and no walks against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 12. He finished the season with 10 double-digit strikeout outings.
Schlittler, 25, became the seventh Yankee -- and the first since Gerrit Cole in 2023 -- to win the award. Of the seven, only he, Ron Guidry, and Whitey Ford were homegrown.
He didn't throw quite as hard as his NL counterpart, but his three-fastball mix confounded hitters all season. He complemented a four-seam fastball that routinely touched triple digits and averaged 98 mph with a 94.6 mph cutter, 97.8 mph sinker, and power curveball he incorporated more later in the season.
The Massachusetts native -- and Boston Red Sox fan growing up -- finished 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 193⅔ innings over 33 starts for a pitching staff that posted the best ERA in the majors. He allowed one run or fewer in 21 starts. He was at his best away from Yankee Stadium, logging a 1.16 ERA in 17 road starts. He led the AL in ERA, fWAR (6.2), and ERA+ (215).
Only Spud Chandler (1.64 in 1943) and Guidry (1.74 in 1978) have posted a lower ERA as qualified starters in franchise history. He was invaluable for a Yankees rotation that dealt with extended absences from Cole, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodon.
A seventh-round pick out of Northeastern in 2022, Schlittler flew under the radar as he rose through the minor leagues because his velocity did not scream dominance. His fastball velocity averaged in the low 90s in his first full professional season in 2023. But with a few delivery tweaks and added muscle, the velocity gradually climbed until he reached 100 mph for the first time in his major-league debut at Yankee Stadium in July 2025.
He found his footing in his fourth start three weeks later and was a revelation down the stretch and into the postseason. In Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series, he held the Red Sox scoreless over eight innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks, which solidified his standing among the game's best pitchers.
The Yankees entered 2026 with Schlittler firmly in their rotation. They hoped for continued growth from a resounding rookie campaign. He exceeded all expectations with one of the greatest pitching seasons in the franchise's history.
Also Wednesday, Mason Miller of the San Diego Padres was a unanimous winner of the inaugural NL Relief Pitcher of the Year Award after posting 38 saves and a 1.67 ERA.
Louis Varland of the Toronto Blue Jays edged out the Guardians' Cade Smith for AL honors, recording 35 saves with a 1.27 ERA.