GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has won the American League’s Cy Young Award for the league’s best pitcher.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America revealed the final ballot in a televised special Wednesday evening on MLB Network.

He won by unanimous vote, beating out Emmanuel Clase of the Guardians and Seth Lugo of the Royals.

Skubal was considered an overwhelming favorite to win the award. He finished the season with an 18-4 record and compiled a 2.39 earned run average with 228 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched).

His wins, ERA and strikeout totals were the best in the American League, making him the AL’s first “Triple Crown” pitcher since former Tiger Justin Verlander accomplished the feat in 2011. His WHIP was second to only Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (0.89).

He was even better down the stretch, when the Tigers finished the year 31-13 to secure a wild card spot. In his final eight starts, Skubal went 5-0, giving up 10 earned runs and racking up 57 strikeouts in 48.2 innings.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal taunts the opposing crowd at Progressive Field after getting out of an inning in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. (Getty Images)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal taunts the opposing crowd at Progressive Field after getting out of an inning in Game 2 of the American League Division Series. (Getty Images)

According to the team, Skubal’s 18 wins are the most by a Tiger since Max Scherzer hit that mark in 2014. His ERA is the lowest by a qualifying starter since Mark Fidrych posted a 2.34 ERA in his legendary rookie run in 1976.

Skubal is the fifth Tiger to win the Cy Young Award. Scherzer was the last Tiger to do it in 2013. Verlander also won it in 2011. Denny McLain won it twice (1968, 1969) and dominant closer Willie Hernandez took the trophy in 1984.

Skubal is part of a young core of a team that hopes to build off of last year’s postseason run. He is entering the second of his three arbitration years, meaning he is under team control through at least 2026. Spotrac estimates Skubal and the Tigers should land on an arbitration agreement near $11 million for the upcoming season.

Skubal and the Tigers will return to Lakeland, Florida, next February to prepare for the 2025 season. Their first game in the Grapefruit League is set for Feb. 22 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Detroit will open the regular season on the road on March 27 against the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. After a six-game road trip, the Tigers will hold their home opener against the Chicago White Sox on April 4.