Part of the journey is the struggle, and Chris Sale had to struggle more than most to get to this point.
From 2019 to 2023, Sale fought through injury after injury, rehab after rehab, trying to recapture the form that had made him a seven-time American League All-Star. Then, at age 35, everything finally clicked into place.
On Wednesday, Sale won his first career Cy Young Award, becoming the eighth Atlanta Braves pitcher to accomplish the achievement. Once a surefire lock to become a Hall of Famer, Sale had fallen off the beaten path, but the 2024 season put him back on track.
Sale was acquired in a December trade that sent former top prospect, second baseman Vaughn Grissom, to the Boston Red Sox. Grissom never established himself as a full-time big-leaguer, batting under .200 in 31 games, while Sale took his game to a new level at age 35.
The Braves were so confident Sale would regain his top form that they signed him to a $38 million extension before he ever threw a pitch. Now, they have two more years of control over the National League's best pitcher.
In 29 starts, Sale put up an 18-3 record, 2.38 ERA, and 225 strikeouts. He won the Triple Crown for NL pitchers and had he not finished only three punchouts behind Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, he would have had the big-league lead in all three categories as well.
Sale received 26 of the 30 first-place votes, with Zack Wheeler of the Philadelphia Phillies garnering the other four. Wheeler finished second, and NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates picked up an impressive third-place finish.
Unfortunately, Sale's health gave out just as the Braves were getting ready to play in the postseason. He experienced back spasms in late September and was scratched from his start on the last day of the regular season, missing the Braves' Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.
Sale should be ready to go on Opening Day, and he'll have a new title to defend. His Hall of Fame case looks more promising than ever, and with another season like he had in 2024, they'll have to start clearing space for him in Cooperstown.
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