Indians News: Baseball Digest names Shane Bieber best pitcher in Majors

Baseball Digest has the right idea, names the Indians Shane Bieber with the “best pitcher” award for 2020 despite a rough end the season.

The Indians starter Shane Bieber is really good at this “baseball” thing. After a strong 2019 that saw him in contention for the AL Cy Young award, as well as earning his first trip to the All-Star game, Bieber came on even stronger in 2020. Bieber won the MLB pitching Triple Crown title, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts for the season.

Bieber led the MLB and subsequently the AL in those three categories – among others – for 2020. He remains the front runner for the 2020 AL Cy Young Award and will be in the running for the AL MVP award. The last pitcher who won a Triple Crown was Justin Verlander. He also won the AL MVP that year.

Verlander, however, didn’t lead the Majors the year he won his MVP, just lead the American League. Bieber led the entire Major Leagues. Strong reasoning for him to be in contention, if not the outright favorite for 2020.

So it isn’t surprising that Baseball Digest unanimouslyvoted him the Pitcher of the Year in all of the majors.

The Baseball Digest awards are voted on by a 17-member panel of writers, broadcasters, former players, managers, and executives. Those same voters also voted Freddie Freeman as “MLB MVP”. Milwakuee Brewers reliever Devin Williams was also voted as the best reliever in the major leagues by the same panel.

While the Indians had a disappointing playoff run, the team remains in good condition with Bieber towing the rubber for the North Coast good-guys. As the Ace of the AL and the Indians, Bieber follows former Indian great Corey Kluber who won two Cy Youngs during his time with the Tribe. Bieber should win his first Cy Young in 2020 and at only 25-years-old looks to be a primed candidate to win a bunch more.