Shane Bieber wins the 2020 AL Cy Young Award

CLEVELAND – Once again, Shane Bieber did what no other Indian pitcher has done before. For the first time in club history, Bieber won the American League’s Cy Young Award unanimously, as the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced on MLB Network Wednesday night. He is the ninth

CLEVELAND – Once again, Shane Bieber did what no other Indian pitcher has done before.

For the first time in club history, Bieber won the American League’s Cy Young Award unanimously, as the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced on MLB Network Wednesday night. He is the ninth Major League pitcher to be unanimously named a recipient since 2000 and the first since Clayton Kershaw in ’14. Justin Verlander in ’11 was the last AL pitcher to receive every vote for first place.

• All-time Cy Young Award Winners

Bieber joins a short list of Indian players who have won the coveted award including Corey Kluber (2014 and 17), Cliff Lee (08), CC Sabathia (07) and Gaylord Perry (1972). The tribe’s four Cy Young Award winners since 2007 are the most numerous in the major leagues during this period.

Trevor Bauer of the Reds won this year’s award in the National League, giving Ohio State both Cy Young.

Shane Bieber is your 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner, and there has never been a doubt.#OurTribe pic.twitter.com/uSrksMhM39

– Cleveland Indians (@Indians) November 11, 2020

There was little debate on whether Bieber would bring the gear home after his stellar season. The only question was whether he would be unanimous in the decision, but even that seemed likely. His numbers topped all pitchers in the Majors, as the 25-year-old won MLB Pitching Triple Crown at the end of the regular season with eight wins, 122 strikeouts and a 1.63 ERA. He’s been the first to lead all Major League pitchers (not just his league’s) in these categories since Johan Santana of Minnesota in 2006.

Bieber led the AL, leading the pitchers in wins, strikeouts, ERA, allowed batting average (.167), allowed stroke percentage (.265) and strikeouts per nine innings (14.2), and he finished second in innings pitched (77 1/3)).

• Distribution of votes for the Cy Young Prize 2020

The 25-year-old is the youngest pitcher in the tribe to win the Cy Young award in franchise history. It’s just another addition to a long list of Cleveland firsts that Bieber has established this year. His 122 strikeouts were a club record in a pitcher’s first 12 starts and the sixth-most in MLB history in such a period. He also recorded at least eight strikeouts over the 12 starts, which is the longest streak to start a season in Cleveland history, surpassing Bob Feller’s club record in 1946 (nine starts).

Bieber’s efforts have been historic, as he hit 100 strikeouts in the fewest innings in Major League history (66 1/3 frames), surpassing Max Scherzer’s record of 63 innings set in 2018. Eight of those outings were double-digit takeout performances, which scored the most 10 strike games of any hurler in 2020.

While his success in 2020 was unmistakable, the right-hander began to show what he was capable of in 19. Bieber 3.28 ERA and 259 strikeouts in 214 1/3 innings last year earned him a fourth place in the vote for the AL Cy Young Award. In his last 25 starts as of July 24, 2019, Bieber has gone 14-6 with a 2.21 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 167 1/3 innings, but he consistently notes he still has plenty of room to improve.