Dairyland Express
Fansided

Milwaukee Brewers: Corbin Burnes Wins NL Cy Young

By Harrison Carter

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 18: Corbin Burnes #39 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks off the field in the game against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on September 18, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 18: Corbin Burnes #39 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks off the field in the game against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on September 18, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

After a historic 2021 season, Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes has been awarded the NL Cy Young Award. Burnes becomes the third Brewer to win a Cy Young in franchise history along with Rollie Fingers in 1981 Pete Vuckovich in 1982.

It was an absolutely dominant season for Burnes. With an ERA of 2.43 (1st in MLB) and a WHIP of 0.94 (2nd in MLB)–the award is well deserved. Additionally, Burnes lead the league in K/9 with 12.611 and was third amongst starting pitchers in Whiff% at 37 percent. Burnes also had a FIP of 1.56, the second-lowest of all-time in a single season, only behind Pedro Martinez’s historic 1999 season.

It is quite the accomplishment for Burnes, who narrowly beat out Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler and the Los Angeles Dodgers Max Scherzer. After making his major league debut in the summer of 2018, Burnes immediately found himself amidst trade rumors, as the Brewers were reportedly interested in then Oriole Manny Machado. The Orioles insisted on Burnes being part of a deal, but the Brewers refused, and Burnes remained with the Crew. Burnes went on to play a key role in the bullpen for the 2018 team that reached the NLCS.

Burnes could not maintain the high level of play, as he pitched a disastrous 2019 season primarily as a starting pitcher. He put up an 8.82 ERA with a 1.84 WHIP, and he was bounced back and forth between the big leagues and the minors.

Going into the 2020 season, Burnes switched up his pitching arsenal, and drastically cut down the use of his 4-seam fastball in place of a cutter. The results were much improved, as Burnes posted a 2.11 ERA in the shortened 2020 season. Going into 2021, Burnes essentially scrapped his 4-seam fastball and relied even more on the cutter, and the results were phenomenal.

It was a tight win for Burnes, as his 10 point margin of victory is the closest in the history of the NL CY Young voting according to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Burnes’ lack of innings pitched certainly contributed to the close results. While it was no landslide, there is no question that the award is well deserved. Milwaukee Brewers fans hope that Burnes can repeat a similar caliber season in 2022 as the Brewers seek their first World Series in franchise history.

Home/Milwaukee Brewers