Jacob Misiorowski named first unanimous Cy Young in Brewers franchise history as meteoric rise continues

Just two years ago, questions about whether or not Jacob Misiorowski could be an effective big-league pitcher were occupying the minds of prospect evaluators. Those bullish on the flame-throwing Misiorowski often pointed to his unicorn velocity and imposing frame as reasons to believe he would find success at the major league level. Those less convinced by the 6'7" 2022 second-round pick pointed to his then-one-dimensional arsenal and shaky command as reasons to believe a role in the bullpen might be Misiorowski's best chance at success in the big leagues.

Even after Misiorowski's rookie campaign, during which he turned in one of the most dominant postseason performances from a rookie pitcher in MLB history, some in the industry voiced their concerns over whether the young right-hander could stick in the starting rotation. On the other side of what is now officially a Cy Young performance from the 24-year-old, said concerns feel ridiculous. That's not to say they weren't valid at the time; rather, it's a testament to just how impressive the second-year improvement from Misiorowski truly was.

The most obvious difference for Misiorowski from his All-Star rookie campaign to his Cy Young sophomore season was his command. Miz's command, or lack thereof, was the biggest remaining concern from his rookie season and the reason some predicted his move to the bullpen in 2026. However, Misiorowski quickly silenced those narratives by displaying pinpoint command from the onset of the 2026 campaign. The result was his walk rate falling from 11.4% in 2025 to 6.6% this year and less in-zone misses led Miz's home run per nine innings rate to drop from 1.09 to 0.72. Unsurprisingly, Misiorowski's improved ability to locate his fastball at the top of the zone resulted in more missed bats which is reflected by his whiff rate jumping from 27.9% to 37.3% this year and his strikeout rate going from 31.9% to an incredible 37.9%.

Due to his improvements on the mound, Miz, who was thrust into the Opening Day starter role due to setbacks experienced by Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester, quickly established himself as the ace of the Brewers' staff. He allowed one earned run in 38.1 innings during the month of May, was named to his second All-Star team, and ultimately led an inexperienced Brewers' starting rotation to a 103-win season. For his dominance, Miz has officially been named the 2026 NL Cy Young, joining Rollie Fingers (1981), Pete Vuckovich (1982), and Corbin Burnes (2021) as the only Brewers to win the award. Miz is the first of the bunch to win the award unanimously.

Jacob Misiorowski is proving to be everything the Brewers hoped he would be through two seasons in MLB

Sharing the company of Fingers, Vuckovich, and Burnes is an admirable spot to be, but it's safe to say that Misiorowski's Cy Young campaign sits on a tier above the rest. Miz's 1.80 season-long ERA is a new franchise record, as is his 0.80 WHIP, 12.985 strikeouts per nine innings, and his 4.95 hits allowed per nine innings. Pair the many records Misiorowski set with his eye-popping velocity, and it's hard to argue against Misiorowski's 2026 being the best by a pitcher in Brewers history.

What a start to Misiorowski's young career. In one and a half seasons, he has two All-Star Game appearances, a World Series title, the best season from a Brewers pitcher in franchise history, and now a Cy Young award. The Brewers were patient to call up their flame-throwing prospect phenom, but it's now clear they made the right decision as Misiorowski has come out of the gates hot with a memorable, confidence-building first year and a half in the big leagues.

The Brewers now have a Cy Young ace leading their staff for at least the next five seasons. Misiorowski is under contract through the 2031 season and turns just 25 years old next April, meaning, at the very least, the Brewers will have him on their roster through his age-29 season -- a large chunk of his prime as a starting pitcher. With Miz already earning a Cy Young award, it's hard to argue that said prime hasn't yet begun.

Few thought Misiorowski would reach this level this quickly. His potential, driven by his one-of-a-kind arsenal, was always obvious, but few were confident it would all come together for the young flamethrower by his second season in the big leagues. It's a testament to the hard work Miz put in during the offseason and between starts to improve his already big-league-caliber arsenal. Miz and the Brewers believed that with the right changes and the right improvements, the young right-hander could be an ace. On the other side of those changes and a Cy Young award, those beliefs have been more than confirmed.

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