Former Guardians player predicts that Gavin Williams will win Cy Young in future

May 23, 2026 - 20:15

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams has a Cy Young Award in his future, according to a former Cleveland player.

Chris Gimenez, who played nearly a decade in MLB, including four seasons across three stints with the then-Indians, gushed about the potential of Williams after a recent outing in which he struck out 11 batters and allowed four hits and no runs in eight innings.

“So I’ve been saying this for the last two years: I think Gavin Williams wins a Cy Young Award at some point in time in his career,” Gimenez said on MLB Network Radio. “He has the stuff. There’s no denying the stuff. I mean, we’re talking power stuff with two different breaking balls. He started to mix in a little slider-cutter now. It sits at 98 generally, 96, 98.

“Dude, the kid just — he’s got moxie. I’m telling you, man, at some point, he’s probably going to win a Cy Young. The only thing that can keep him from winning a Cy Young is the walks. And we’ve seen at times the last couple of years — this year just to start the season off, he had five walks in the first game. Last year, he went on a run where he walked more guys than he struck out, and he struck out a lot of guys. So, I mean, the stuff — there’s no denying that. It’s just, can he continue to establish the strike zone?”

Gavin Williams had 11 strikeouts against the Phillies last night @CleGuardians | #GuardsBall
https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4 pic.twitter.com/CJ9hN1WSu1
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) May 23, 2026

In an AL-best 69.1 innings pitched this season, Williams has seven wins and 84 strikeouts (both league highs), and he has posted a 3.25 ERA, 3.36 FIP, and 1.111 WHIP.

And to Gimenez’s point, one of Williams’ flaws, walks, is at a career-best mark so far; his BB/9 has dropped to 2.9. He averaged 4.5 walks per nine innings last season. Additionally, his K/9 is at 10.9, up from last year’s 9.3.

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