OMAHA, NE - Kansas City Royals right-hander Zack Greinke today was named the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. The 26-year old's Cy Young season is the fourth in Royals history and he becomes the third pitcher to win the award, joining two-time winner Bret Saberhagen (1985, 1989) and David Cone (1994).Greinke was named first on 25 ballots and second on three ballots of the 28 ballots cast by two writers in each A.L. city. He received a total of 134 points. The Mariners' Felix Hernandez was the runner-up, with 80 points and two first place votes. The Tigers' Justin Verlander picked up the other first place votes while the Yankees' C.C. Sabathia and the Blue Jays' Roy Halladay also received votes.
The Florida native posted arguably the greatest season in Royals history, going 16-8 with a Major League-leading 2.16 ERA. It was the lowest ERA in the junior circuit since Pedro Martinez posted a 1.74 ERA for Boston in 2000. Greinke also paced the A.L. in opponents' on-base percentage (.276), baserunners per nine innings (9.81) and fewest home runs per nine innings (0.43). He finished second in several other categories including strikeouts, posting 242, second-most in Kansas City Royals history.
Greinke was also named today as the 2009 Bruce Rice award winner as Kansas City's Pitcher of the Year. It was his second such award after taking home the honor in 2004. In that season - his third as a professional - Greinke opened the year with the Omaha Royals, going 1-1 with a 2.51 ERA. He needed just six Triple-A starts before making his Major League debut at 20 years old. He wound up going 8-11 with a 3.97 ERA in 24 big league starts, joining Dennis Leonard (1975) as just the second rookie to be chosen as the Bruce Rice Royals Pitcher of the Year.
In 2006, a bout with social anxiety disorder cost Greinke most of the Major League season and threatened his baseball career. However, he recovered to post sub-3.70 ERA's the past two years before capping his outstanding 2009 campaign with today's awards.
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