Parker Messick’s first full season in Cleveland ended with a rare kind of double recognition.
The Guardians left-hander has been named a finalist for both the Cy Young Award and the Rookie of the Year Award, putting him in position to potentially win two of MLB’s biggest honors after a breakout campaign.
Messick’s season started with a statement. On March 30, in his first outing of the year against the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, he worked six scoreless innings, struck out five, and didn’t issue a walk. It was an early snapshot of what followed from the first-year pitcher.
By season’s end, Messick had separated himself from the rest of the rookie class in the American League. He posted a 2.56 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts, all of which led AL-qualified rookies. Those numbers also stacked up well across the league, ranking third, fourth, and eighth among American League pitchers.
For Rookie of the Year, Messick is up against Detroit Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle and Boston Red Sox’s Payton Tolle. On the Cy Young side, the other finalists are Toronto Blue Jays’ Dylan Cease and New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler.
The rookie race is a tricky one to compare, especially with Messick and Tolle both on the mound while McGonigle is a position player. As the source material puts it, some would even say the difference in position makes them two completely different sports.
Still, Messick’s case is straightforward: he was the best rookie pitcher in the American League, and the numbers back that up from top to bottom.
What makes the recognition even more notable is where this all began. Messick wasn’t locked into Cleveland’s Opening Day rotation, but a strong spring training - following a strong September in 2025 - pushed him onto the roster.
Whether he wins one award, both, or neither, Messick’s first year has already gone well beyond what he expected. And for the Guardians, it’s a strong sign they have one of baseball’s best pitchers, with more ahead.
In Other News...
Guardians Trade Buzz Puts Clevelands Outfield Plans Under Pressure
The offseason has already put Cleveland in a familiar spot, with the front office expected to stay active as the market takes shape and the possibility of a lockout after December 1 hovering over everything. Coming off a strong season, the Guardians have reason to keep reworking the roster, and the outfield is one of the areas drawing the most attention as trade discussions begin to heat up.
Steven Kwan has emerged as the more prominent name in the chatter, giving Cleveland a high-value piece that could bring back real help if the club decides to move him. Blake Perkins is also in the mix as a defense-first option, and the fact that both names are being floated suggests the Guardians may be weighing more than one path as they try to balance short-term competitiveness with whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Just Lost A Key Piece Of Their Pitching Pipeline
After 10 seasons in Cleveland, Joe Torres is moving on to join the Cincinnati Reds as their major league pitching coach, taking over the role vacated by Derek Johnson. Torres had become a familiar and important part of the Guardians pitching operation, working closely with the staff and helping guide a number of young arms through their development.
For the Guardians, the timing matters as much as the departure itself. They now have to find someone to step into that lane alongside pitching coach Carl Willis for the 2027 season, and replacing a longtime voice in the room is never a simple matter when a club has leaned on that continuity to shape its pipeline. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Lose Another Pitching Voice As Francona Reunites With Familiar Staffer
Another familiar pitching voice is leaving Clevelands staff, with Joe Torres set to take over as the Reds head pitching coach under Terry Francona. Torres has been with the Guardians organization since 2017, working his way through a series of minor league coaching roles before moving into his major league assistant pitching coach job in 2022.
For the Guardians, the move adds another layer of turnover to a pitching group that has leaned on continuity in recent seasons. There is no replacement announced yet, leaving one more opening for the club to sort out as it looks to keep its staff intact heading into the next phase of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]