Cam Schlittler named unanimous AL Cy Young Award winner for first full season with New York Yankees

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Cam Schlittler was named the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday evening, as announced by MLB Network. The New York Yankees right-hander capped his first full Major League season with a performance that ranked him among the American League’s top statistical leaders and gave the Yankees their seventh Cy Young Award, their first since Gerrit Cole won in 2023.

Schlittler took first place on the Cy Young ballot for the AL. Dylan Cease of the Toronto Blue Jays finished second, and Parker Messick of the Cleveland Guardians was third, giving the Yankees starter the clear distinction of being the unanimous choice.

For New York, the award represents a notable milestone in recent franchise history. The Yankees have had several Cy Young Award winners previously, including Bob Turley (1958), Whitey Ford (1961), Sparky Lyle (1977), Ron Guidry (1978) and Roger Clemens (2001), and the 2026 win by Schlittler is their first since Cole’s 2023 season.

In his first full season in Major League Baseball, Schlittler went 14-6 with an AL-best 1.95 ERA. MLB states he also paced the American League in pitching WAR (6.2) and opponent on-base percentage (.244), establishing his profile as an impact starter across multiple measures of run prevention and overall value.

MLB also reported that Schlittler’s 1.95 ERA ranked as the third-lowest mark in Yankees franchise history by a qualified pitcher. The only lower qualified seasons cited by MLB are Spud Chandler’s 1.64 ERA in 1943 and Ron Guidry’s 1.74 ERA in 1978.

Beyond season totals, Schlittler’s run prevention showed up in start-to-start outcomes. MLB reports that he permitted one run or fewer in 21 starts, a Major League-best number, and he allowed three runs or fewer in 29 starts, tied for the most in the Majors. Since his debut in July 2025, MLB says he also led all Major League starters in ERA with a 2.23 mark.

The Yankees’ Cy Young selection came after a recent path that included a call-up following early pro seasoning. MLB describes Schlittler beginning the 2025 season in Double-A after receiving his first Spring Training taste, then taking the opportunity and carrying it into his Major League role. Schlittler’s statement credited in the announcement context was that “There’s been a lot going on the last year,” and that he began in Double-A before being given an opportunity that he “kind of ran with it.”

MLB further highlights where Schlittler’s season was especially difficult for opponents, noting that he performed strongly in road environments. MLB reports he went 8-2 with a 1.16 ERA in 17 road starts, and that he led Major Leaguers in road ERA, strikeouts (129), opponent batting average (.153), opponent OPS (.456) and WHIP (0.74).

While the announcement centers on Schlittler’s individual award, it also places his success within the Yankees clubhouse context. MLB includes a 2026-season comment from Yankees manager Aaron Boone saying during the season that “He’s going to win the Cy Young,” attributing that view to how Schlittler continued to improve “year in and year out,” and referencing the stretch when he performed after being called up last year.

MLB’s statistical breakdown of Schlittler’s workload includes 193 2/3 innings, with 239 strikeouts, 49 walks and 129 hits allowed. MLB reports that the 239 strikeouts tied Jack Chesbro (1904) for the fourth-most by a Yankees pitcher in a single season.

MLB also notes that Schlittler’s impact appeared in the strikeout totals over multiple starts, and it cites his ability to limit damage at key points in games. Included in the coverage are comments attributed to Yankees rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr., who said, “I’ve played with Cam since Double-A,” adding that it was not surprising to him what Schlittler was doing and pointing to his “competitiveness and fire” and “nasty stuff.”

Schlittler’s Cy Young recognition also reflects how his season translated from late-career momentum into award-level results. MLB includes Schlittler’s remarks in which he emphasized treating each game the same, stating, “The goal is to find a way to treat every game the same.” In the same announcement context, MLB quotes Paul Goldschmidt as discussing the excitement around watching Schlittler’s growth, while also referencing veteran starters on the team.

With the award now secured, the immediate consequence is that Schlittler’s first full Major League season has been officially recognized as the league’s best pitching performance by the Cy Young vote in the American League. The announcement also positions him as the Yankees’ latest franchise Cy Young winner, adding to a lineage that includes multiple historic names tied to New York’s pitching awards.

Schlittler’s unanimous selection, alongside Cease’s second-place finish and Messick’s third, finalizes the AL Cy Young voting results as announced through MLB Network, marking Wednesday evening as the official moment the AL’s top pitcher was identified for 2026 based on the award ballot.