New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler has been named the unanimous winner of the 2026 American League Cy Young Award, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced Wednesday. The 25-year-old ace received all 30 first-place votes, totaling 210 points, comfortably ahead of Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease (110 points) and Cleveland Guardians rookie Parker Messick (84 points).
Schlittler's victory ends a two-year run by Tarik Skubal, who won the previous two AL Cy Young awards with the Detroit Tigers before departing in free agency. In his second major league season, Schlittler posted dominant numbers: a 1.95 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 193.2 innings pitched, 49 walks and 239 strikeouts. He led AL pitchers in wins above replacement (7.0) and posted an ERA+ of 215 — a Yankees franchise record, surpassing Ron Guidry's 208 from 1978. Schlittler also tied for the AL lead with a 2.56 FIP and struck out 31.4% of opposing batters, the second-highest rate in the league.
His excellence anchored a Yankees rotation that navigated the absence of franchise slugger and back-to-back AL MVP Aaron Judge for nearly 100 games. New York won 93 games, posted the AL's best run differential, and advanced to the AL Division Series. "Cam had as dominant a season as a starting pitcher can have from start to finish," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "He's shown an astonishing amount of growth since we drafted him, and his success is no accident. Cam has a tireless appetite for hard work and refinement that has allowed his talents to truly flourish. This Cy Young is richly deserved."
Schlittler's leap from a strong rookie campaign in 2025 came after increased usage of his sinker and cutter and improved ride on his 98-mph fastball. He does not turn 26 until February, suggesting further dominance may lie ahead.
Voting Totals
1. Cam Schlittler, Yankees – 30 first-place votes, 210 points
2. Dylan Cease, Blue Jays – 22 points
3. Parker Messick, Guardians – 84 points
4. Drew Rasmussen, Rays – 72 points
5. Sonny Gray, Red Sox – 21 points
Others receiving votes: Reid Detmers (Angels), Cade Smith (Guardians), Bryan Baker (Rays), Michael Wacha (Royals).
Schlittler becomes the seventh Yankee to win the Cy Young Award, joining Gerrit Cole (2023), Roger Clemens (2001), Ron Guidry (1978), Sparky Lyle (1977), Whitey Ford (1961) and Bob Turley (1958).
