Before the season started, it seemed Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale had reached the end of the road. However, he proved he still has plenty left in the tank in 2024.
On Wednesday, Sale completed his phenomenal comeback, winning the National League Cy Young Award. He defeated Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies, earning 26 of 30 first-place votes.
In his first 13 seasons with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, the left-hander became one of the top pitchers in baseball, making seven All-Star Games and winning a World Series with Boston in 2018. But injuries nearly derailed his career.
From 2020-23, Sale underwent Tommy John surgery, fractured his rib and broke his left pinkie finger and wrist. The issues limited him to 31 starts during this time frame.
In December 2023, the Red Sox dealt Sale to the Braves for infield prospect Vaughn Grissom. He responded with one of the best seasons of his career.
In 29 starts, Sale had an 18-3 record, a 2.38 ERA, a 1.013 WHIP and 225 strikeouts in 177.2 innings pitched. He and Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal became the first major leaguers to capture the pitching triple crown in a 162-game season since Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander in 2011.
Sale’s resurgence was pivotal for the Braves after they lost starting pitcher Spencer Strider to Tommy John surgery in April and helped them clinch a playoff spot on the season’s final day.
Citing the Elias Sports Bureau, MLB.com’s Sarah Langs shared that Sale, 35, is the fifth-oldest first-time Cy Young winner since the award’s inception in 1956.
“I’m glad it worked out this way because I feel like I’m able to appreciate this moment more now,” Sale said of earning the award for the first time, per MLB Network. “I can’t stress enough about everybody that helped me get here. I’m very thankful for them.”
When Sale signed a two-year, $38M extension in January, the Braves indicated they think he still has more in store. Perhaps the future Hall of Famer does.