The Next Pedro Martinez? Pitching Phenom Could Match Former Red Sox Ace

There was only one Pedro Martinez. But Tarik Skubal is doing a good job chasing down the Red Sox legend.

Skubal, the Detroit Tigers ace, is the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. He won the pitching Triple Crown last year, leading the AL in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228).

This year, it’s been more of the same. His 3.7 WAR and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings lead all AL pitchers. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports Skubal is on pace to become the first pitcher to win back-to-back Cy Young Awards since Martinez did it with Boston in 1999 and 2000.

“Just how dominant is Tarik Skubal? He has thrown 90.1 innings this season, and hasn’t permitted a run in 79 of them, yielding a 1.99 ERA and a 0.808 WHIP,” Nightengale reported.

The Martinez comparison is interesting. The Hall of Famer was at the height of his dominance in 1999, winning the pitching Triple Crown by leading the AL in wins (23), ERA (2.07) and strikeouts (313).

In 2000, Martinez recorded a career-best 1.74 ERA while leading the league with 284 strikeouts and 11.7 WAR.

Of course, Martinez had a string of several dominating seasons, beginning in 1997 when he won his first Cy Young Award while posting a 1.90 ERA with 305 strikeouts and 13 complete games for the Montreal Expos.

Martinez was runner-up for the Cy Young in 1998, his first in Boston. He also finished second in voting in 2002.

As for Skubal, he is setting himself up for a huge payday. The 28-year-old southpaw is set to be a free agent after the 2026 season. Getting compared to an all-time great like Martinez will only drive up his asking price.