Corbin Burnes and Robbie Ray Win 2021 Cy Young Awards

In 2019, Corbin Burnes had an 8.82 E.R.A. In 2020, Robbie Ray had a 6.62 E.R.A. and was traded in what amounted to a salary dump. On Wednesday, both pitchers proved that great stuff and a solid work ethic can win out eventually, as they were named the Cy Young Award winners for their leagues.

The transformation of both pitchers was equal parts shocking, based on how low their careers had sunk, and understandable when you consider their track records for overpowering batters. Through hard work, they figured things out, and batters paid a heavy price.

Burnes, 27, followed his breakout 2020 season by starting 2021 with a streak of 58 strikeouts without a walk, joining Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta in a Milwaukee Brewers rotation that effectively had three aces. That dominance continued as Burnes led the majors in E.R.A. (2.43) and strikeouts per nine innings (12.6). He received 12 of 30 first-place votes, beating out his fellow finalists: Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies, who also received 12 first-place votes, and Max Scherzer of the Nationals and Dodgers, who received six. Burnes triumphed over Wheeler by way of 14 second-place votes to Wheeler’s nine.

Ray, 30, stepped up as a left-handed ace for the Toronto Blue Jays, leading the American League in E.R.A. (2.84) and innings pitched (193⅓). Fashioning himself into a power lefty in the mold of Randy Johnson, who had served as a mentor for Ray in Arizona, he led the majors in strikeouts (248). That led to his receiving 29 of 30 first-place votes, beating out his fellow finalists: Gerrit Cole of the Yankees, who received the remaining first-place vote and 29 second-place votes, and Lance Lynn of the Chicago White Sox, who received 11 third-place votes.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/sports/baseball/corbin-burnes-robbie-ray-cy-young.html