Exploring Which Past Seattle Mariners Have Won Prestigious Cy Young Award

The Seattle Mariners don't have a long list of Cy Young winners, but the two that they have, Felix Hernandez and Randy Johnson, were solid representatives for the franchise.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez throws during a game against the Texas Rangers on Aug. 19, 2019, at Globe Life Field. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

One of the most prestigious honors in baseball was awarded on Wednesday.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal won the American League Cy Young Award, capping off one of the most unexpectedly elite years from a starting pitcher in recent memory.

Atlanta Braves hurler Chris Sale won the National League's Cy Young Award, capping off one of the most improbable comebacks over the last several seasons.

It was the first Cy Young honor for both Skubal and Sale, placing them among a list of past winners that includes the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball.

That list of past winners includes two Seattle Mariners legends.

The Mariners have had two Cy Young winners in their 48-year history: Randy Johnson in 1995 and Felix Hernandez in 2010.

Johnson was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 and Hernandez is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time for the 2025 class.

Here's a breakdown of Johnson's and Hernandez's respecctive Cy Young-winning seasons.

Randy Johnson, 1995

Johnson was in the middle of a decade-long stint with Seattle (1989-1998) when he won the first of five career Cy Young awards. Johnson's elite season coincided with the first playoff berth in franchise history for the Mariners that included an appearance in the American League Championship Series.

Johnson finished the year with a 2.48 ERA and a 2.08 FIP en route to an 18-2 record across 30 starts. He struck out 294 batters across 214.1 innings pitched.

October 2, 1995 – In a one-game playoff for the American League West title, Randy Johnson of the Seattle Mariners, throws a three-hitter and beats the California Angels, 9-1.

The 'Big Unit' finishes the shortened season of 145 games with an 18-2 record to establish a new… pic.twitter.com/XbgHDzMSZT

— Baseball Brew Crew (@beerbaseball_) October 2, 2023

Felix Hernandez, 2010

Two years before Hernandez threw the only perfect game in Mariners history, he had already cemented himself as one of the best starting pitchers of his era.

One year after finishing second in Cy Young voting, Hernandez made sure to get the job done in 2010. He finished with a 2.27 ERA and a 2.56 FIP across 34 starts. He posted just a 13-12 record, but that was hardly his fault. He struck out 232 batters across 249.2 innings pitched. Hernandez pitched over 30 games for the fifth consecutive season in 2010. He ended up starting 30 or more games in 10-straight years from 2006-2015. It was also the second time Hernandez started 34 games.

Félix Hernández 2009-2014 stats
(Rankings among SP with 300 IP)

199 Starts (3rd)
1,394.1 IP (1st)
2.73 ERA (2nd)
2.89 FIP (4th)
3.07 SIERA (4th)
3.01 xFIP (3rd)
37.2 fWAR (1st)
17.8 K-BB% (9th)
129 K%+ (8th)
5x All-Star
2010 AL Cy Young
Perfect Game

The Prime of The King 👑 pic.twitter.com/ZOX56D8nOc

— Switch (@IISwitchII) January 23, 2024

Seattle didn't add a third Cy Young winner to Hernandez's and Johnson's ranks. Logan Gilbert came in sixth in Cy Young voting on Wednesday.

But the Mariners' starting rotation currently includes three All-Stars and four pitchers who started 30 or more games in 2024. Every single starting pitcher finished with a sub-3.70 ERA.

Based on the current status of Seattle's starting pitchers, it might not be long before there's a third hurler to win the Cy Young.

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