Gerrit Cole, the star pitcher for the New York Yankees, has been named the winner of the 2023 American League Cy Young Award. The 33-year-old received all 30 first-place votes, solidifying his status as the best pitcher in his league.
Cole has had an impressive career since his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013. He has earned six All-Star nods and has consistently ranked among the top pitchers in the Cy Young race. This year, there was no doubt about his dominance as he led the AL in multiple categories including starts, ERA, shutouts, innings pitched, ERA+, and WHIP.
In addition to his exceptional performance on the field, Cole reached significant milestones this season. He recorded his 2,000th career strikeout in May, making him the third-fastest pitcher in MLB history to achieve this feat. He also made his first All-Star Game start in July.
Although the Yankees had a disappointing season and missed the playoffs, Cole continued to live up to his record-breaking contract. In 2020, he signed a nine-year, $324 million deal, making him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history.
Cole faced tough competition for the Cy Young Award, with Sonny Gray of the Minnesota Twins and Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays as finalists. However, his outstanding performance throughout the season secured him the well-deserved honor.