Tigers' Tarik Skubal celebrates birthday with Cy Young win

Skubal was considered a clear-cut favorite to win the award after he broke out this season. 

In 31 starts, he finished with an 18-4 record, a 2.39 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 228 strikeouts in 192 innings pitched. His efforts catapulted the Tigers into the postseason for the first time since 2014. 

"It was a ton of fun to be a part of," Skubal recently told ESPN's David Schoenfield. "The last two months of the season and even the postseason was very special. The memories and experience will obviously help our club going forward, and I'm glad we got to go through this experience as a team and a young team."

According to ESPN's MLB roster analysis, Detroit is the sixth-youngest team in the majors, with an average age of 26.5. The club should have a bright future, especially if Skubal keeps flourishing.

The left-hander is the fifth player in Tigers' history to win Cy Young and the first since Max Scherzer in 2013. Like Skubal, Scherzer was 28 when he won the award for the first time. He has since captured it two more times.

Perhaps Skubal's career will follow a similar trajectory.

"I think [Skubal] is a good example of what every starting pitcher wants to be," Tigers rookie pitcher Jackson Jobe recently told The Athletic's Cody Stavenhagen. "I mean, he's the best pitcher in baseball hands down, it's not even a question."

Skubal won't be an unrestricted free agent until 2027, but the Tigers should consider signing him a long-term extension. Along with the Cy Young, it would be another excellent gift for the budding star.