When it comes to making a comeback, Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale delivered one of the most impressive performances of the season. And on Saturday, his fellow players made sure that was recognized.
Sale took home two of the Players Choice Awards: National League Outstanding Pitcher and National League Comeback Player of the Year. He proved to be dominant on the mound and made history. He became only the third Brave to earn the Outstanding Pitcher title and the sixth to be named Comeback Player.
The competition was fierce. For the Outstanding Pitcher award, Sale edged out Pittsburgh Pirates standout rookie Paul Skenes and the ever-reliable Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. Meanwhile, his comeback journey saw him triumph over Milwaukee’s Rhys Hoskins and San Diego’s Jurickson Profar. With a stellar record of 18-3, a 2.38 ERA, and an impressive 225 strikeouts in 2024, Sale’s season was a model of excellence and resilience, enough to earn him a unanimous nod from his peers.
Sale’s award for Comeback Player adds him to a select club of Braves legends who have received similar honors. Previous Braves who took home the Comeback Player title include the likes of Andres Galarraga (2000) and Hall of Famer John Smoltz (2002).
Chris Sale also joins Braves icons Greg Maddux and Smoltz in winning Outstanding Pitcher, two names that define Atlanta’s legacy of pitching greatness. It’s a rare and prestigious recognition that underscores the transformation Sale has undergone this season.
It wasn’t only Sale representing Atlanta in the Players Choice Awards. Fellow Braves star Marcell Ozuna was nominated for National League Outstanding Player, though he fell short to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani. In a similar vein, Max Fried, nominated for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, lost to Hoskins. While Ozuna and Fried ultimately came up short, the nominations alone signal the level of talent and sportsmanship permeating the Braves roster this season.
In a sport where comebacks and personal revivals are far from guaranteed, Sale’s journey is particularly inspiring. His accolades this season have come in waves. Sporting News named him NL Comeback Player of the Year just days before the Players Choice Awards.
The pitcher’s renaissance in 2024 has been nothing short of spectacular, reaffirming his position as one of the league’s elite. Sale’s award-winning year will be remembered as a turning point late in his career and a testament to the power of resilience in baseball.
The Players Choice Awards is determined by the Major League Baseball Players Association. They have honored the league’s standout players since 1992. The accolades are especially meaningful, as they come from the players themselves, making Sale’s recognition a powerful nod of respect from his peers. As he prepares for what’s next, Braves fans can only look forward to what Chris Sale brings to the mound in 2025.
