Introduction

In a noteworthy announcement by the Baseball Writers Association of America, Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale has officially been crowned the National League Cy Young Award winner for 2024. This prestigious honor comes as he outperformed other formidable competitors, with Zack Wheeler from the Philadelphia Phillies finishing in a close second and Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates taking third.

Chris Sale's Comeback Journey

This award caps off an extraordinary comeback journey for Sale, who from 2010 to 2018 stood among the elite pitchers in Major League Baseball. However, his performance took a nosedive in 2019, primarily due to a series of injuries that plagued him for years, including a rigorous Tommy John surgery. Over four tumultuous years, from 2020 to 2023, he managed to pitch a mere 150 innings.

The Boston Red Sox Trade

The defining moment in Sale's career came when the Boston Red Sox traded him to Atlanta in December 2023. At the time, the trade raised eyebrows due to Sale entering his age-35 season and being far removed from his prime. Furthermore, the Braves parted with promising young prospect Vaughn Grissom, which added to the skepticism surrounding the trade.

Outstanding 2024 Performance

Despite concerns regarding his durability, Sale's performance in 2024 has far exceeded expectations. Most players on the Atlanta roster faced injuries throughout the season, yet Sale maintained his health and proved to be a consistent force on the mound.

He concluded the season with an impressive 29 starts and 177 2/3 innings pitched, boasting a remarkable earned run average (ERA) of 2.38. Sale struck out an astounding 32.1% of the batters he faced, while keeping walks to just 5.6% and generating ground balls on 44.8% of balls put in play. Notably, he achieved the pitching triple crown, leading the National League in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. His 6.4 wins above replacement (fWAR) stat, as reported by FanGraphs, not only topped the league but also highlighted his dominating presence on the mound compared to Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, who finished with 5.9 fWAR.

Historical Significance of Sale's Win

Interestingly, this marks Sale’s first Cy Young win despite his storied career. According to MLB's Sarah Langs, he is the first pitcher to finish in the top five of Cy Young voting for five consecutive years, drop out of the top five for five years, and make a triumphant return to the elite rankings. Additionally, he’s among the select group of pitchers who have achieved six previous top-five finishes before finally capturing the award, solidifying his legacy in baseball history as one of the oldest pitchers to receive this accolade for the first time.

Looking Ahead

With Sale leading the charge, the Braves are not only celebrating personal achievements but also setting their sights high as they aim for a deeper postseason run. The baseball world will undoubtedly remain eager to see if this resurgence marks the beginning of a new chapter in Sale's illustrious career.