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Tarik Skubal is a leading candidate for the AL Cy Young. Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper apparently foresaw this for the ace as many as three years ago. According to his former teammate Rhys Hoskins, Harper predicted as much.
Hoskins said, via MLBPA:
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“Must’ve been 2021 Spring Training. I’m with the Phillies. Strikes Bryce out on three fastballs. Walking back to the dugout and I ask him, ‘What do you got, Bryce? What do you think?’ and he immediately said, ‘That guy’s going to be a Cy Young one day.'”
Other players such as Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Tyler O’Neill and Colton Cowser praised Skubal as he was named the MLBPA Player’s Choice AL Outstanding Pitcher. While it’s not official yet, Skubal is well on his way to making good on Harper’s prediction from years ago despite a few bumps along the way to this 2024 dominant season.
Will Tarik Skubal be the American League Cy Young?
Tarik Skubal won the pitching Triple Crown in the American League after posting the AL’s lowest ERA, highest strikeout total and best win-loss record. It was one of the most dominant seasons for a pitcher in some time. Was it enough to win him the Cy Young?
According to the odds, that is an overwhelming yes. The Detroit Tigers ace is -5,000 to win the award, which means it would be a complete and utter shock if he didn’t win.
Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians had one of the best seasons by a relief pitcher ever and is deservedly in the conversation for the award, but he’s likely to finish second with +2,500 odds to win. He will win the Reliever of the Year award, but he doesn’t have a case to outdo the best starting pitcher from this season.
Others in the conversation include a pair of Kansas City Royals stars in Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans as well as Baltimore Orioles star Corbin Burnes. They are all longshots, though. This award is almost assuredly going to Skubal, making good on Bryce Harper’s years-old prediction.
Edited by Rajdeep Barman