The Milwaukee Brewers pitcher received all 30 first-place votes after leading Major League Baseball in ERA and strikeouts, capping a record-breaking season with a World Series championship.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski unanimously won the 2026 National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, November 11, becoming the fourth pitcher in franchise history to receive baseball’s highest pitching honor. The 24-year-old right-hander earned all 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America after a season defined by exceptional velocity, dominant statistics and Milwaukee’s first World Series championship.
Misiorowski finished the regular season with a 16-5 record, a 1.80 earned run average and 252 strikeouts. He led all Major League Baseball starting pitchers in several major statistical categories and became the first pitcher in the pitch-tracking era to throw more than 1,000 pitches at 100 mph or faster in a single season.
His award came two weeks after the Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series. Misiorowski was the winning pitcher in the championship-clinching game, completing a season that established him among baseball’s leading young stars.
Misiorowski Receives Every First-Place Cy Young Vote
Misiorowski received the maximum 210 points in voting conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez finished second with 99 points, narrowly ahead of Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale, who received 98.
The unanimous selection made Misiorowski the 17th National League pitcher to win the award with every first-place vote. He followed Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who accomplished the same feat in 2025.
The vote reflected the strength of Misiorowski’s performance throughout the regular season. His numbers placed him ahead of established pitchers, including several former Cy Young winners.
According to MLB, Misiorowski led major league starters with a 1.80 ERA, 252 strikeouts, a 0.80 WHIP and a .157 opponents’ batting average. WHIP measures the average number of walks and hits a pitcher allows per inning.
His 12.98 strikeouts per nine innings also led starting pitchers. That figure demonstrated how frequently he could end an at-bat without allowing a ball into play.
Advanced statistics supported the traditional measurements. His 2.17 fielding independent pitching mark and 232 adjusted ERA indicated that his success extended beyond the defensive support he received from Milwaukee.
Misiorowski worked 174⅔ innings during the regular season, allowing just 44 walks. His combination of strikeouts, control and limited hits helped him maintain one of the most impressive pitching performances in recent years.
A Fastball That Rewrote MLB Records
Misiorowski’s fastball became one of the defining stories of the 2026 baseball season.
The 6-foot-7 pitcher threw 1,115 pitches that reached at least 100 mph, according to MLB’s Statcast tracking system. That shattered the previous single-season record of 673, established by Jordan Hicks in 2018.
No other pitcher had previously reached 1,000 pitches at that velocity during a season in the pitch-tracking era, which began in 2008.
Misiorowski reached the milestone during a September game against the Chicago Cubs. His ability to maintain triple-digit velocity throughout long outings distinguished him from most pitchers capable of throwing at those speeds.
On June 26, he threw a pitch measured at 105.5 mph, the fastest recorded by a starting pitcher during the tracking era. That pitch also ranked among the fastest recorded in major league history.
His velocity was not limited to occasional maximum-effort throws. He regularly exceeded 100 mph while maintaining enough control to challenge hitters throughout games.
During one July outing, Misiorowski threw 66 pitches above 100 mph, establishing another single-game record. His exceptional speed made ordinary fastball timing difficult for opposing batters.
However, velocity alone did not explain his improvement. Misiorowski also developed greater consistency with his breaking pitches and became more effective at controlling different areas of the strike zone.
The adjustments helped him transform from an unusually hard thrower into a more complete starting pitcher.
Brewers Celebrate First World Series Championship
Misiorowski’s Cy Young Award followed the most successful postseason in Milwaukee Brewers history.
The Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays four games to one in the 2026 World Series, winning the franchise’s first championship since its establishment in 1969.
Milwaukee clinched the title October 28 with a 4-1 victory in Game 5 at Tampa Bay. Misiorowski earned the win, his second of the series, after also winning the opening game.
His performance placed him in a small group of pitchers who won the Cy Young Award and received credit for a World Series-clinching victory in the same year.
Other pitchers to accomplish the feat include Sandy Koufax, Steve Carlton, Bret Saberhagen, Orel Hershiser and Randy Johnson.
The comparison reflects the significance of Misiorowski’s achievements, although postseason performances were not considered in the Cy Young voting.
Ballots were submitted before the playoffs began, meaning Misiorowski earned the award entirely through his regular-season performance.
The Brewers finished the regular season with a 103-59 record, the best in Major League Baseball. They also captured their fourth consecutive National League Central division championship.
Milwaukee’s championship followed decades of postseason disappointment, including the franchise’s previous World Series appearance in 1982.
Misiorowski’s emergence as a dependable ace played an important role in helping the team complete its championship run.
Misiorowski Joins Three Brewers Cy Young Winners
With Wednesday’s announcement, Misiorowski became the fourth pitcher in Milwaukee Brewers history to receive the Cy Young Award.
Rollie Fingers won the American League award in 1981, followed by Pete Vuckovich in 1982. Corbin Burnes became the franchise’s first National League Cy Young winner in 2021.
Milwaukee played in the American League until moving to the National League in 1998, making Misiorowski its second National League winner.
The honor also placed him among a small group of pitchers who have won the Cy Young Award during their second major league season.
Misiorowski made his MLB debut in June 2025 and quickly attracted attention because of his extraordinary fastball. His rookie season included an All-Star selection despite his limited experience at the highest level.
He built on that foundation in 2026, becoming Milwaukee’s Opening Day starter and recording 11 strikeouts against the Chicago White Sox.
His early performances demonstrated that he could handle the responsibilities of leading a major league pitching rotation.
In May, he went 5-0 with a 0.23 ERA, delivering one of the strongest months of pitching in the league.
During a June outing, Misiorowski came within one hit of throwing a perfect game while striking out 15 batters. His performances continued earning recognition throughout the summer.
He received another All-Star selection in July, becoming a two-time All-Star during his first two seasons in the majors.
Yankees Pitcher Cam Schlittler Wins American League Award
Misiorowski was not the only young pitcher receiving unanimous Cy Young recognition Wednesday.
New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler won the American League award after receiving all 30 first-place votes. The 25-year-old finished the regular season with a 14-6 record, a 1.95 ERA and 239 strikeouts across 33 starts.
Schlittler became the seventh Yankees pitcher to win a Cy Young Award, joining a group that includes Ron Guidry, Roger Clemens and Gerrit Cole.
His 1.95 ERA was the lowest by an American League pitcher since 2022 and ranked third in Yankees history among qualified pitchers.
The award represented another major step in Schlittler’s career after he established himself in New York’s rotation during the 2025 season.
He stepped into a leading role while veteran pitcher Gerrit Cole dealt with injuries, giving the Yankees a reliable starter during the regular season.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease finished second in the American League voting with 110 points. Cleveland Guardians left-hander Parker Messick placed third with 84 points.
The two unanimous winners marked only the third occasion in which pitchers from both leagues received every first-place Cy Young vote in the same year.
Both Misiorowski and Schlittler won the award during their second major league seasons, an uncommon achievement for starting pitchers.
Brewers Look Ahead After Championship Season
For Milwaukee, Misiorowski’s award adds another accomplishment to a year that already included a division title, the best regular-season record in baseball and a World Series championship.
The Brewers now have a young ace who has demonstrated the ability to dominate opposing hitters while carrying a major workload.
His achievements also create expectations for the 2027 season, when Milwaukee will attempt to defend its championship.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy has praised Misiorowski’s development, particularly his improved confidence and understanding of how to approach major league hitters.
Teammate Christian Yelich has also emphasized the pitcher’s progress, noting that his improvement involves more than the velocity that first attracted attention.
Misiorowski will enter his third major league season with a Cy Young Award, two All-Star selections and a World Series championship already on his résumé.
Major League Baseball’s annual awards announcements continue Thursday, November 12, when the American League and National League Most Valuable Player winners are scheduled to be revealed.
IMAGE: MLB right-handed pitcher Jacob Misiorowski delivering a pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers.. Photo: Drovetochicago / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0