The past few years had not been easy for Chris Sale. The veteran pitcher had suffered several injuries which saw a massive dip in his form. However, this season, he bounced back strongly and was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year award. This was not the only honor he would win as he went on to claim the 2024 National League Cy Young Award.
The Atlanta Braves suffered a massive blow early on in the 2024 season when their ace pitcher Spencer Strider got injured. This left the fans worried as he had an amazing campaign in 2023. Sale would step up after this and fill the void left by his teammate’s injury.
In 29 starts this season, Sale went 18-3 and had the lowest ERA in the entire MLB (2.38). He also picked up 225 strikeouts, which saw him win the NL Triple Crown in pitching.
Unlike Tarik Skubal, who won the American League Cy Young Award unanimously, Sale finished first by receiving 26 first-place votes. Philadelphia Phillies ace, Zack Wheeler, finished second with 4 first-place votes. National League Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes came third.
Your 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner is Chris Sale of the @Braves! pic.twitter.com/fBKCrFj3fu
— MLB (@MLB) November 20, 2024
At 35 years old, Sale is now the fifth-oldest first-time Cy Young Award winner. In the interview with MLB Network, the southpaw claimed that he was “glad” to have this worked out and labeled the Braves as one of the easiest clubhouses to walk into.
Well, I can tell you, I figured out I don’t have it all figured out. I’m glad that it worked out this way, because I feel like I’m able to appreciate this moment more now… Just being able to go down to Atlanta and feel comfortable. I mean, that clubhouse was one of the easiest clubhouses to walk into and I felt like I kind of fit right in.
Chris Sale said
“I’m glad it worked out this way because I feel like I’m able to appreciate this moment more now.”
Chris Sale talks about the perseverance it took to win his first career Cy Young Award. pic.twitter.com/AEnsQelZXj
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 20, 2024
Sale and Skubal are now the fourth pair of Cy Young Awards who won the triple crown. They are also the first lefty duo to win this award since Barry Zito and Randy Johnson in 2002.
Fans on social media were hyped up after Chris Sale won the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday. In doing so, he became the eighth different Atlanta Braves star to claim this prestigious award.
Several fans lauded his performances throughout the season. Users on X wrote, “Hell of a comeback” to describe his victory. Comments such as “well deserved” and “congratulations” were the most common ones as fans put him ahead of Zack Wheeler in their debates.
Check out them and some other top reactions from X below:
Hell of a comeback
— PrizePicks (@PrizePicks) November 20, 2024
Chris Sale has quite a resume.
Cy Young
Triple Crown
World Series Champion
Gold Glove
8x All-Star
All-MLB First Team
NL Comeback Player of the Year
53.4 WAR
3x strikeout leader
8 seasons w/200+ strikeouts
2,414 strikeouts
3.04 ERA
138-83 recordHall of Fame next?
— Xavier Sanchez (@Xavier_Sanchez4) November 20, 2024
well deserved
— Pro (Open For Badge Grinding) (@Prolificary) November 20, 2024
Deserved ! Congrats
— annoying ohtani fan (@owndodgerhaters) November 20, 2024
No one saw this coming before 2024
— ²⁵¹⁰M (@Masmo2510) November 20, 2024
Another Red Sox masterclass trade
— . (@Yankees_Heat_) November 20, 2024
He’s such a freak
— JAKE (@hjw2B) November 21, 2024
MY GOAT
— omsportsburner (@omsportsburner) November 20, 2024
Very well deserved!!
— Stephen Miller (@ChoZiNBomb86) November 20, 2024
Red Sox punching the air rn.
— Gohan (@GohanVeezy) November 20, 2024
RIGHTFULLY HIS😤😤
— mindyourown (@22dagang) November 20, 2024
The Braves would now be hoping for Sale to continue this form in the 2025 season. While Spencer Strider is set to come back next season, the team is also hoping to re-sign Max Fried during the free agency and make a strong pitching rotation as they aim to challenge for the World Series crown.
