In looking at the winners of the 2025 Cy Young Awards -- Tarik Skubal of the Tigers and Paul Skenes of the Pirates -- you can't help but wander into the future. The foundation is in place for these two aces to be all-time greats.

Skenes is the second pitcher in MLB history, along with Dwight Gooden, to win Rookie of the Year and Cy Young in consecutive seasons.

Skubal became the first American League pitcher to win consecutive Cy Young Awards since Pedro Martinez in 2000 while Skenes won his first NL plaque in unanimous fashion when winners were announced Nov. 12.

Following a stellar sophomore season in the Major Leagues, Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting. The Pirates' Paul Skenes was the unanimous winner, while the Phillies' Cristopher Sánchez was the runner-up,

The American League Cy Young award winner for 2025 is Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal .

Tigers pitchers have now won seven Cy Youngs. Skubal joins McLain (1968-69), Guillermo “Willie” Hernandez (1984), Verlander (2011) and Scherzer (2013). Skubal went 13-6 with a league-best 2.21 ERA in 2025, striking out 241 and walking just 33 in 195 innings.

Skubal posted a 13-6 record with an American League-leading 2.21 ERA and 240 strikeouts in 195 1/3 innings for the Tigers during the regular season, then went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA in three playoff starts for Detroit, which was eliminated by Seattle in the Division Series.

The biggest question is whether or not Skubal will have a chance to defend his award in a Tigers uniform in 2026.