CLEVELAND -- Parker Messick entered Spring Training this year with nothing guaranteed, and in a position where he would have to earn a spot on the Guardians’ Opening Day roster. As it turned out, the strong impression the lefty made in camp was only the first step.
Messick authored a stellar first full big league season, which made him a finalist for both the American League Rookie of the Year Award and the AL Cy Young Award. Though he officially came up short for the former, Cleveland fans will remember his campaign for years to come.
Messick finished second in AL Rookie of the Year Award voting, as revealed on Monday night by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Detroit infielder Kevin McGonigle earned 28 of 30 first-place votes to win the honor.
Messick garnered two first-place votes, 25 second-place votes, a pair of third-place votes and one fourth-place tally to finish as the runner-up. He was among three Guardians who received votes, alongside outfielder Chase DeLauter (who finished in sixth place) and second baseman Travis Bazzana (11th place).
The AL Cy Young Award winner will be announced Wednesday on MLB Network.
Only the Padres (1987) have a longer drought without a Rookie of the Year Award winner than Cleveland, a streak that dates to catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. in ‘90. Messick was vying to become the fifth Cleveland player to earn the honor.
Like right-hander Tanner Bibee (who finished second in voting in 2023), Messick had a compelling case. The lefty, who had a seven-start debut stint in the Majors down the stretch in 2025, earned a spot on the Guardians’ Opening Day roster and pitched well beyond his years this past season while emerging as a staff anchor.
Messick recorded a 2.56 ERA with 193 strikeouts and was worth 6.3 wins above replacement (per Baseball Reference) in 186 1/3 innings over 32 starts. His ERA ranked sixth among qualified MLB starters. His strikeouts were the second most by a rookie pitcher in Cleveland franchise history (Herb Score, 245 in 1955), as was his bWAR (Vean Gregg, 9.1 in 1911).
Only McGonigle (7.1) had a higher bWAR among AL rookies this past season than Messick, who allowed three or fewer earned runs in 29 of his 32 starts, two or fewer in 25 starts and one or zero in 18 starts. He joined Score (1955) and Dick Stigman (‘60) as the only Cleveland rookie pitchers to be named an MLB All-Star in July.
“What he's done this year has been unbelievable,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said during the AL Championship Series. “He gives us a chance to win. He's just uber competitive. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, his best command, he still finds ways to get weak contact and get outs.”
Messick arrived in Guardians camp in late January not knowing what to expect for 2026. He ultimately proved to be a key reason the Guardians clinched their third consecutive AL Central division title in a year where they came two wins shy of winning the AL pennant.
Not bad for a first full big league campaign.
“The ups and downs, the highs and lows of a season, you never know what to expect,” Messick said after the Guardians’ season-ending loss to the Rays in Game 6 of the ALCS. “It's been a fun ride this year for me.
“I didn't know what to expect, but the good Lord and a lot of good people in this locker room carried me through it.”