The Dodgers’ ace and 2025 World Series MVP caps his dominant season with a nomination for the NL’s top pitching honor, joining Paul Skenes and Cristopher Sánchez.
LOS ANGELES — Fresh off a champagne-soaked parade, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto has received one of the highest individual honors in the sport.
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) officially named the 27-year-old right-hander a finalist for the 2025 National League Cy Young Award.
The nomination is the final validation of Yamamoto’s incredible second season in Major League Baseball, one in which he not only lived up to his $325 million contract but also anchored a World Series-winning pitching staff.
A Dominant Regular Season
While Yamamoto’s legend was cemented in October—where he went 5-1 with a 1.45 ERA and was named World Series MVP—the Cy Young Award is a regular-season honor, and his 2025 campaign was masterful.
In 30 starts for the Dodgers, Yamamoto posted:
- Record: 12-8
- ERA: 2.49 (6th in MLB)
- Strikeouts: 201
- WHIP: 0.99
- Innings: 173.2
He was named an NL All-Star in July and, alongside the return of Shohei Ohtani to the mound, helped form the most dominant pitching staff in baseball. After the retirement of Clayton Kershaw, Yamamoto has solidified his role as the undisputed, long-term ace for the reigning champions.
The Elite Competition
Yamamoto faces a “titanic” field of competitors for the award. The other two finalists put up historic seasons of their own:
- Paul Skenes (Pirates): The 2024 Rookie of the Year is the “consensus favorite” to win. The 23-year-old phenom led all of Major League Baseball with a staggering 1.97 ERA and led the NL with a 0.948 WHIP, despite a 10-10 record for the Pirates.
- Cristopher Sánchez (Phillies): The Phillies’ ace had a career-best year, going 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA and 212 strikeouts. He led all MLB pitchers with an 8.0 bWAR, stepping up after Zack Wheeler was lost for the season.
The winner of the 2025 NL Cy Young Award will be announced live on MLB Network on Wednesday, November 12.
