{"id":120275,"date":"2026-04-24T01:59:59","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T05:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=120275"},"modified":"2026-04-24T01:59:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T05:59:59","slug":"pirates-braxton-ashcraft-secret-nl-cy-young-candidate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/04\/24\/pirates-braxton-ashcraft-secret-nl-cy-young-candidate\/","title":{"rendered":"The National League’s Secret Cy Young Candidate"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you think of National League Cy Young Award candidates<\/a>, Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a>\u2019 right-hander Paul Skenes<\/a> is likely the first name that comes to mind, having won his first career Cy Young<\/a> in 2025. Last year\u2019s finalists, Cristopher S\u00e1nchez<\/a> and Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/a>, are also frontrunners. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani<\/a> is throwing his hat in the ring now. But one name that isn\u2019t getting talked about enough is one of Skenes\u2019 rotation-mates, Braxton Ashcraft<\/a>. He has just as good a chance early on in 2026 as anyone.<\/p>\n

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Braxton Ashcraft Becoming Sleeper Candidate for NL Cy Young<\/h2>\n

An Unheralded Rookie Season<\/h2>\n

Ashcraft overcame multiple injuries that sidelined him for most of 2020 through 2022. The former 2018 second-round pick re-established himself as a top pitching prospect with a breakout 2023 in the minors, then made his presence known in the big leagues in 2025. Ashcraft\u2019s rookie year flew completely under the radar. In 69 2\/3 innings, the right-hander worked to a 2.71 ERA, 2.78 FIP, and 1.249 WHIP. He had a respectable 24.3% K% and 8.2% BB%, and excelled at limiting home runs and hard contact. Ashcraft only allowed 0.39 home runs per nine innings, while ranking in the top 80th percentile of exit velocity (88 MPH) and the top 94th percentile of barrel percentage (4.6%).<\/p>\n

Ashcraft pitched so well as a multi-inning reliever that the Pirates moved him into the rotation at the end of the year. He was flat-out dominant in his last eight appearances (where seven were starts). His final 36 1\/3 innings yielded a 2.23 ERA, a 29.1% strikeout percentage, and a free pass rate of just 8.1%. Despite Ashcraft\u2019s outstanding first season in the major leagues, he did not receive a single Rookie of the Year vote.<\/p>\n

One of the Best NL Starters So Far<\/h2>\n

Ashcraft didn\u2019t let the lack of recognition stop his momentum heading into 2026. Throughout his first five starts and 29 2\/3 innings of the year, the right-hander has a 2.43 ERA, has struck out 27.6% of batters he has faced, and has a solid 7.8% walk rate. Home runs continue to be a non-issue, allowing just one long ball and putting up a 4.1% barrel percentage. The only stats on Ashcraft’s Baseball Savant page that are below the 75th percentile are exit velocity (89 MPH, 51st percentile), walk rate, and ground ball percentage (50%, 72nd percentile).<\/p>\n

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Braxton Ashcraft, 98mph \u26fd\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/H0yc0xst9T<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n