Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes and Manager Craig Counsell were named finalists for National League Cy Young and Manager of the Year Award honors Monday when the Baseball Writers Association of America announced the top three vote-getters for each of its annual postseason awards.
Burnes, 27, put together a historic season in 2021. Along with becoming the first Milwaukee pitcher to win an ERA title by finishing with a 2.43 mark, he led all qualified NL starters in fWAR (7.5), FIP (1.63), fewest walks allowed (34), fewest home runs allowed (7), and strikeout rate (12.61 K/9), while finishing fifth with 234 strikeouts.
Beyond mere stats, Burnes broke an MLB record when he opened the season by striking out 58 batters before issuing his first walk, tied another MLB record in August when he struck out 10 consecutive batters then became the first Milwaukee pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Juan Nieves in 1987 when he and closer Josh Hader teamed up to no-hit Cleveland on Sept. 11.
Burnes is vying the first Brewers pitcher to win a Cy Young Award since 1982 when Pete Vuckovich won the AL Cy Young after going 18-6 with a 3.32 ERA to help Milwaukee reach the World Series for the first — and, still, only — time in franchise history.
That also marked the last time a Brewers pitcher finished among the top three in voting for the award.
Counsell’s resume this season includes a franchise-record fourth consecutive playoff appearance and the second NL Central Division title since he took over for Ron Roenicke early in the 2015 season. Milwaukee accomplished those feats despite Counsell having to work 60 different players in and out of his roster throughout the season.
For Counsell, this marks the third time in four seasons that he’s finished among the top three vote-getters but would be the first time winning the award. He finished second to Atlanta’s Bria Snitker in 2018, earning 11 first-place votes and 99 overall and second again in 2019 when he appeared atop 13 ballots but was edged out by the Cardinals’ Mike Shildt.
Manager of the Year Award winners will be announced on Nov. 16 with the Cy Young Award announcement coming the next day.
Previous Brewers BBWAA Award Winners
Most Valuable Player
1981 — Rollie Fingers (AL)
1982 — Robin Yount (AL)
1988 — Robin Yount (AL)
2011 — Ryan Braun (NL)
2018 — Christian Yelich (NL)
Cy Young
1981 — Rollie Fingers (AL)
1982 — Pete Vuckovich (AL)
Rookie of the Year
1992 — Pat Listach (AL)
2007 — Ryan Braun (NL)
2020 — Devin Williams (NL)