Should Parker Messick Be a Cy Young Candidate? Guardians’ Skipper Thinks So
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick is putting together a compelling case to be a Cy Young winner in 2026.
Video Transcript
Parker Messick forced his way onto the Cleveland Guardians opening day roster after an incredible training camp and also September of 2025.
But even looking back to February and March, it's pretty incredible to think about where Messick is at right now and how well he's pitched throughout his rookie year.
In fact, Stephen Vogt believes it's time that we start putting Messick in the Cy Young conversation, especially after his outing on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, where he pitched six innings, gave up just one earned run, five strikeouts, and it was a night where he really didn't have his best stuff either.
Vogt said after the game, quote, "His command just-- he just didn't have it a whole lot today.
And I think that speaks more volumes to Parker Messick and why he needs to continue to be in the Cy Young conversation.
I feel like what he's done, what he's doing every time out, giving us a chance to win, he finds a way to go deep into games and gives us a chance to win."
Now, with all that being said, sometimes managers do hype up their players, whether it be for an All-Star bid or an MVP, and the numbers don't always support that claim.
But in the case of Messick potentially being a Cy Young contender in 2026, the numbers absolutely support what Vogt is saying.
Right now, Messick has a two point four six ERA, which currently ranks third in the American League.
His one dot zero two WHIP is fourth in the American League, and the pitchers that are just above him include New York Yankees' Cam Schlittler and then also Toronto Blue Jays' Dylan Cease, two guys who have really been at the forefront of the Cy Young conversation throughout the entire season.
Now, am I saying that Messick should win the award?
No.
There's obviously still a lot of baseball that needs left to play.
And also, if you look ahead at the rest of the month or rest of the regular season with one month remaining, Messick probably has about four, five, potentially six starts left, so there's a lot of baseball to go.
But what I am saying and what Vogt's saying is that if this continues, if Messick continues to pitch at this high level, quality start after quality start, giving his team a chance to win while also being up there with the leaders in ERA and WHIP, there's gonna be a conversation that voters have to have, and it's gonna be hard for them not to give him some consideration on their ballots when they cast them at the end of September.
