It’s official: Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander won his third Cy Young Award.
He won one in 2011 with the Detroit Tigers, and another one with the Astros back in 2019.
His third recognition for best pitcher in the American League will look nice alongisde his 2011 MVP Award, his Rookie of the Year Award in 2006, and a myriad of other pieces of hardware.
Another member of the Verlander family showed how proud he is via Twitter.
“YES!! Cy Young Award #3 for @JustinVerlander!! I couldn’t be more proud. The journey from the 1st day throwing after TJ to winning the World Series and the Cy Young Award today is unprecedented. Your hard work and determination is one of the many reasons you’re my role model,” Ben Verlander, Justin’s brother, tweeted.
YES!! Cy Young Award #3 for @JustinVerlander!!
I couldn’t be more proud. The journey from the 1st day throwing after TJ to winning the World Series and the Cy Young Award today is unprecedented. Your hard work and determination is one of the many reasons you’re my role model. pic.twitter.com/Wp3EIPvJuz
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) November 17, 2022
Ben works as an analyst for MLB on FOX and has interviewed Justin many times.
An Incredible Comeback Story For Verlander
No one has a better idea of Justin’s career to this point than Ben.
That journey he is referring to, from the first day throwing after having Tommy John surgery in 2020 to winning the World Series a couple of weeks ago and his third Cy Young yesterday, was done at almost 40 years old: that’s why Ben says it is unprecedented.
No one has done a similar thing in the history of the game.
Verlander just completed what could be considered the best season of his career.
It was, at least, his lowest ERA, at 1.75, and also his second-lowest WHIP (0.83).
He was not as overpowering this year as he was in 2019, when he struck out 300 hitters, but he was just as effective, if not more.
What an incredible story.
NEXT: Justin Verlander May Own Untouchable MLB History