Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick finishes among top three in American League Cy Young voting

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Parker Messick has achieved an impressive milestone in his rookie season. He is poised to finish third in American League Cy Young voting behind Yankees ace Cam Schlittler and Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease.

This feat puts Messick in a rare group of pitchers, as he will become the sixth rookie in MLB history to finish among the top three in Cy Young voting. His predecessors include Mark Fidrych from 1976, Fernando Valenzuela from 1981, Dwight Gooden from 1984, Jose Fernandez from 2013, and Paul Skenes from 2024.

Messick's performance has drawn comparisons to some of the greatest rookie pitchers in baseball history. However, while he is certainly an exceptional talent, his season was not enough to secure him the American League Rookie of the Year award. The honor went to Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle instead.

McGonigle received 28 out of 30 first-place votes, a testament to his outstanding debut campaign. His impressive showing has left many in awe, and it is clear that he is one of the most promising young players in the league.

As one of the voters who did not choose McGonigle for Rookie of the Year, I can attest that this decision was not an easy one. Both Messick and McGonigle had incredible seasons, making it difficult to distinguish between them.

In my opinion, while McGonigle is undoubtedly a worthy winner, I opted for Messick due to his remarkable Cy Young performance.

The Guardians' Parker Messick and Tigers' Kevin McGonigle were among the top prospects in 2025, but they took different paths to the majors.

Messick's impressive minor league performance across three levels made him a standout candidate for the Rookie of the Year award.

In contrast, McGonigle was called up from spring training and quickly made his presence known with four hits in his major-league debut on Opening Day.

McGonigle's consistency at the plate was notable, as he never batted lower than third in Detroit's lineup after his first four games batting sixth.

He demonstrated versatility by playing both shortstop and third base for the Tigers, depending on their needs.

The 21-year-old made a strong impression on fans and analysts alike, including during the All-Star Game in Philadelphia where he was one of the youngest players on either roster.

McGonigle's performance continued to impress throughout the season, culminating in an eight-year, $150 million extension signed just weeks into his career with the Tigers.

The massive contract commitment is a testament to McGonigle's talent and potential, making him a valuable asset for any team.

When evaluating candidates for a prestigious award, one metric stands out: Wins Above Replacement (WAR). However, it proved less than decisive in this particular case.

The WAR numbers for the two top contenders were remarkably close, making it challenging to rely solely on this measure.

One of the key factors that set Messick apart was his impressive 1 WAR mark among all American League players in both 2026 and 2017. This distinction highlights his exceptional value as a hitter and pitcher.

By contrast, when looking at fWAR, Messick's performance is even more noteworthy. His score ranks alongside other notable rookie standouts like Jackson Merrill and Corbin Carroll, placing him among the top position players of all time.

In an effort to gain further insight into the candidates' performances, I examined how they compared to their peers and the league as a whole. This analysis revealed that Messick had indeed separated himself from the rest of the rookie class by midsummer.

The key difference in their performances lay not just in their individual numbers but also in how they measured up against the top hitters and pitchers in the league, regardless of experience or draft status.

Parker Messick's emergence as a frontline arm in 2026 was nothing short of remarkable, considering he didn't have a guaranteed rotation spot at spring camp.

In fact, it wasn't until the final days of spring training that Messick secured a role on Cleveland's starting staff, earning him the No. 5 starter position to begin the year.

But his impressive performance soon earned him more responsibility, as he quickly shed his label as a fifth-starter and became a legitimate frontline arm.

Messick's ability to dominate hitters was evident in his impressive strikeout numbers, with 55 of his total strikeouts coming on out-of-zone changeups.

This was particularly notable given the context of the season, as Messick was one of just 22 hurlers league-wide to make at least 32 regular-season starts.

His workload was among the highest for a rookie in recent memory, logging more innings than any rookie since Sandy Alcantara in 2019.

Parker Messick's impressive performance on the mound was marked by consistency, as he never allowed more than four earned runs in a single outing throughout the season. This level of control is a testament to his skill and experience, even if it was his first year in the league.

Messick's ability to limit damage was evident in his 18 starts where he allowed one or zero earned runs, ranking him third among major league pitchers behind only two Cy Young favorites. His impressive numbers were a key factor in the Guardians' success during the regular season.

In every outing but two, Messick successfully completed five innings of play, demonstrating his endurance and ability to adapt to different situations on the field. One of those exceptions was an abbreviated game 162 start, where he gave way to his team's relief pitchers as they prepared for the postseason.

The fact that Parker Messick is a double-finalist for both AL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards speaks volumes about his exceptional performance this season. He joins a select group of players who have been nominated for both honors in the same year, with Paul Skenes being the most recent example.

However, despite his impressive regular-season numbers, Messick's command faltered in the postseason, where he struggled across four starts and three losses for Cleveland. His performance was not the only factor contributing to the team's early exit from the playoffs, but it did raise some concerns about his ability to perform under pressure.

Messick's contributions during the regular season were crucial in helping the Guardians secure a spot in the postseason, making him a deserving candidate for AL Rookie of the Year.

The Guardians' Chase DeLauter was another standout rookie who made my ballot for AL Rookie of the Year.

DeLauter's season-long consistency as Cleveland's top hitter earned him a spot in third place on my ballot.

A coin-toss decision between DeLauter and Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle ultimately led me to choose DeLauter due to his impressive performance throughout the regular season.

DeLauter's talent was never in question, but injuries had limited his availability since being selected in the first round in 2022. This season, however, he played a crucial role for the Guardians with 559 plate appearances across 133 games, including 69 starts in right field and 60 at designated hitter.

DeLauter's impressive results when available were undeniable: His 131 wRC+ was not only the highest among AL rookies but also ranked tenth among qualified AL hitters.