MLB announced on Wednesday that San Diego Padres ace Blake Snell (6th-best free agent) won the 2023 National League Cy Young award, defeating SF Giants ace Logan Webb, who finished second. Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen finished in third place. While Webb did not win the award, the highest Cy Young finish of his career, and first top-two finisher since Tim Lincecum in 2009.
Webb built an impressive case for himself to win the Cy Young over the course of the season despite a slow start. The Rocklin, California native finished the year with a 3.25 ERA (3.16 FIP) in a league-leading 216 innings pitched (33 starts) alongside 194 strikeouts and just 34 walks. He also racked up two complete games, including a nine-inning shutout.
Ultimately, though, a strange early-season struggle to keep the ball in the ballpark sunk his chances. Snell finished the season with a league-best 2.25 ERA (3.44 FIP) and 234 strikeouts in 180 innings pitched (32 starts). Gallen recorded 220 strikeouts in 210 innings pitched (34 starts) with a 3.47 ERA (3.27 FIP).
Logan Webb may not have won the 2023 National League Cy Young, but the 26-year old has further solidified himself as one of the best pitchers in MLB. Under contract with the SF Giants for the next five years, Webb is slated to be the team's ace for years to come and hopes to lead them back to championship glory.
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