Paul Skenes’ meteoric rise to the top is complete.

The 23-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates ace was a unanimous choice for the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday night, becoming the first pitcher in 40 years to win Rookie of the Year one season and baseball’s premier pitching prize the next.

“Winning it is one thing — it being unanimous is another,” Skenes said. “It’s pretty special.”

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal captured his second straight American League Cy Young Award minutes earlier, joining elite company after another spectacular season in which he helped propel the Tigers to a playoff berth.

“A lot of it is not being complacent with who I am today,” Skubal said. “I still think there’s more to tap into. I don’t think this is the finished version of myself.”

Skenes

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