LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – You may have noticed that it was announced on Wednesday that Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel won the American League Cy Young Award.
The award is given annually to the best pitcher in each league of Major League Baseball as voted on by a committee of baseball writers across the country.
Some Arkansas baseball fans probably know that Keuchel was a former Razorbacks pitcher before going pro.
However, for those who are less baseball-savvy, here are 11 things you might not know about Dallas Keuchel:
- He was born on January 1, 1988 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- He played three years at the University of Arkansas before he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the seventh round of the 2009 MLB Draft.
- He has a career record in the MLB of 41-35, with a 3.58 ERA, 523 strikeouts, and a 1.25 WHIP (Walks to hits ratio).
- He was named to his first A.L. All-Star team in 2015.
- He has won two Gold Gloves in his career (2014, 2015).
- He led the A.L. in wins in 2015, going 20-8 (Including 15-0 at home) with a 2.48 ERA and 216 strikeouts
- He bats and pitches left-handed
- He made his Major League debut in 2012 on June 17, 2012 against the Texas Rangers.
- His nickname is "Kid Keuchy." That is also his Twitter handle.
- He is the second former Razorback to win the Cy Young, joining former Hog Cliff Lee, who won the award in 2008.
- In addition to the Cy Young Award and the Gold Glove, Keuchel also won the Warren Spahn Award (best left-handed pitcher) as well as the Players Choice Award for American League Outstanding Pitcher
It was an amazing season for the young pitcher, and the future looks bright for both Keuchel and the Houston Astros.
