Baseball Stars Sweep Cy Young Awards as Astros and Nationals Announce Major Moves
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski and New York Yankees starter Cam Schlittler have unanimously won the 2026 Cy Young Awards following outstanding individual campaigns.
Cy Young Awards
Misiorowski collected all 30 first-place votes after recording 16 wins, five losses, a 1.80 earned run average and 252 strikeouts across 30 starts.
The 24-year-old led Major League Baseball in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts, helping Milwaukee secure 103 victories before capturing the World Series championship.
His remarkable performance featured a 100.6 mph average fastball, with more than 1,000 pitches reaching at least 100 mph during the season.
He also recorded a 1.89 ERA across four postseason starts, becoming the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 2001 to win both honours.
Schlittler equally dominated the American League voting, finishing with 14 victories, six defeats, a 1.95 ERA and 239 strikeouts across 33 appearances.
The 25-year-old became the seventh Yankees pitcher to receive the prestigious award, following an impressive campaign despite injuries affecting several teammates.
Elsewhere, San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller and Toronto Blue Jays reliever Louis Varland received the inaugural Baseball Writers’ Association of America Reliever of the Year awards.
Miller won unanimously after recording 38 saves, 129 strikeouts and a 1.67 ERA, while Varland finished with 35 saves and an impressive 1.27 ERA.
Astros Appoint Brad Ausmus
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros have appointed former New York Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus as manager, replacing Joe Espada after their disappointing postseason elimination.
The 57-year-old previously managed Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels, accumulating 386 victories and 422 defeats before returning to familiar territory in Houston.
Ausmus played catcher for the Astros between 1997 and 2008, across two separate spells, and brings previous playing and managerial experience to the position.
Nationals Secure Jacob Young
Elsewhere, Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young has agreed to a four-year contract covering the 2030 season, with an additional club option for 2031.
The 27-year-old recorded career-best figures of 10 home runs and 50 runs batted in, while batting .252 during the 2026 campaign.
Young also maintained his reputation as an exceptional defender, ranking among the National League’s leading centre fielders in defensive contributions.
The agreement comes amid uncertainty surrounding baseball’s future, with the existing collective bargaining agreement expiring December 1, potentially triggering a league-wide lockout.
Leave a comment