NEW YORK — Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello was named the 2016 winner of the American League Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher in the league.
Porcello is the first Red Sox pitcher to win the award since Pedro Martinez won in 2000. It's the first time Porcello has been honored as the Cy Young recipient.
After a terrible 2015 season, Porcello completely turned around his fortunes on the mound, finishing the year with a 22-4 record and 3.15 ERA, the lowest ERA of his eight-year MLB career.
Porcello beat finalists Corey Kluber of the Indians and Justin Verlander of the Tigers to claim the award. He received fewer first place voice than Verlander did, but still won the award by less than five points.