Former UCLA right-hander and current New york city Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has actually been called the winner of the 2023 American League Cy Young Award, it was announced on Wednesday afternoon by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA).
Cole’s victory in the Cy Young award this year is significant as it is his first-ever win in this category. He has actually been a competitor for the award for the past six seasons, regularly making votes and ending up in the top 5 for the past four consecutive years, from 2018 to 2021.
Cole ends up being the 2nd Bruin all-time to take home a Cy Young Award, making UCLA among just 8 schools in the nation to have produced numerous Cy Young winners. Paired with Trevor Bauer’s 2020 NL Cy Young, UCLA is now simply the second NCAA institution (Campbell) to have actually had numerous Cy Young winners on the exact same team.
“Gerrit has actually been the skilled pro over his career,” said UCLA head coach John Savage. “Winning the Cy Young Award is a testament to his drive, determination, and attention to detail. On behalf of the Bruin household, I wish to praise Gerrit, his family, and the Yankees company on winning this prestigious award.”
Cole was the unanimous choice for the 2023 AL Cy Young, gathering all 30 first-place votes.
Cole had an outstanding season with the Yankees, topping the American League in various classifications. He published a 15-4 record, leading the league in ERA (2.63 ), WAR (7.4 ), winning percentage (.789 ), innings pitched (209 ), WHIP (0.98 ), hits enabled per 9 innings (6.8 ), AGE+ (165 ), and nothings (two). Furthermore, he tape-recorded 222 strikeouts, marking his third successive season with over 200 strikeouts.
The finalists competing against Blake Snell for the award were Kevin Gausman of the Toronto Blue Jays and Sonny Gray of the Minnesota Twins.
A three-year standout atop the UCLA rotation from 2009-11, Cole was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Popularity in 2022. Over 50 career looks in Westwood, Cole taped a 3.38 period and 376 strikeouts over 322 1/3 innings. At the conclusion of his junior year, he was picked No. 1 total in the 2011 MLB Draft by Pittsburgh, becoming the first-ever No. 1 pick in program history.
A Freshman All-American in 2009 and second-team All-American in 2010, Cole helped the Bruins to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths in 2010 and 2011, including a journey to the 2010 College World Series. He still ranks second in program history in career strikeouts, while likewise ranking fifth in video games begun (49) and seventh in innings pitched.
