CC Sabathia (2025)

Cleveland Indians

Sabathia played in the minor leagues from 1998 through 2000. In 2001, the Indians called Sabathia up and, at age 21, he became the youngest player in the major leagues at that time. In his first full season (2001) with the Indians, Sabathia played in 33 games, pitched 180.1 innings, had a 17-5 record, and had a 4.39 ERA. In the postseason, he pitched 6.0 innings in one game and he gave up 6 hits and 2 runs.

Sabathia showed his durability, a strength throughout his career, in 2002 when he pitched 210.0 innings in 33 games. He had 13 wins and 11 losses, 149 strikeouts to 88 walks, and a 4.37 ERA.

Sabathia's ERA dropped in 2003 to 3.60. He pitched 197.2 innings in 30 games and he had 13 wins and 9 losses. He struck out 141 batters and walked 66. The following season, he pitched 188.0 innings in 30 games. He had 11 wins and 10 losses and struck out 139 batters and walked 72. He had a 4.12 ERA in 2004.

In 2005, Sabathia pitched in 31 games. He finished the season with 15 wins and 10 losses, 161 strikeouts to 62 walks, and a 4.03 ERA in 196.2 innings. His ERA dropped to 3.22 in 2006. He finished that season with 12 wins and 11 losses and 172 strikeouts to 44 walks in 192.2 innings in 28 games.

The 2007 season was one of Sabathia's best. That season he won the AL Cy Young award. He finished the season with a 19-7 win-loss record and a 3.21 ERA. He had 209 strikeouts in 241.0 innings in 34 games.

Milwaukee Brewers

Although Sabathia pitched well for the Indians, they traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers in July, 2008. Sabathia's 2008 split season turned out to be his best, with career highs in games played (35), innings pitched (253), and strikeouts (251 to 59 walks). He had a career low ERA of 2.70 in 18 games with the Indians and 17 games with the Brewers. In the postseason, he pitched 3.2 innings in one game and he gave up 6 hits and 5 runs.

New York Yankees

Sabathia signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the New York Yankees in December, 2008. He had a strong first season with his new team, pitching 230.0 innings in 34 games. He led the AL in wins with 19 (to 8 losses). He struck out 197 batters and walked 67 and he had a 3.37 ERA. In the postseason, he helped the Yankees win the World Series by getting 3 wins and 1 loss. He pitched 36.1 innings in five games and he gave up 28 hits and 9 runs. He struck out 32 batters and walked 9. His performance in the ALCS won him the MVP award.

In 2010, Sabathia again led the AL in wins, this time with 21 wins and 7 losses. He struck out 197 batters and walked 74 and he had a 3.18 ERA in 237.2 innings in 34 games. In the postseason, he gave up 22 hits and 11 runs in 16.0 innings in three games. He had 2 wins and no losses and he struck out 15 batters and walked 7.

Sabathia continued to be the Yankees ace in 2011, pitching 237.1 innings in 33 games. He won 19 games and lost 8 and struck out 230 batters while walking 61. He finished the season with an ERA of 3.00. He didn't pitch well, however, in the postseason, giving up 10 hits and 6 runs in 8.2 innings in three games.

Sabathia finished the 2012 season with a 3.38 ERA in 28 games. He had a 15-6 win-loss record and he struck out 197 batters and walked 44 in 200.0 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 21.1 innings in three games and he gave up 23 hits and 9 runs. He struck out 19 batters and walked just 5. He won two games and lost 1.

Sabathia had elbow surgery after the 2012 season ended. He struggled when he returned to the mound in 2013. In 32 games, he had 14 wins and 13 losses with 175 strikeouts to 65 walks. He finished with a career high ERA of 4.78. He spent the last part of the 2013 season on the DL.

On May 11, 2014, Sabathia went on the DL with a knee injury. Two months later, he had season ending surgery on his knee. He pitched 46.0 innings in 8 games before going on the DL.

In 2015, Sabathia again spent time on the DL with a knee injury. He finished the season with a 6-10 record, 137 strikeouts to 50 walks, and a 4.73 ERA in 167.1 innings in 29 games.

Sabathia entered an alcohol treatment center on October 5, 2015. He returned to the Yankees clean and healthy in 2016. He pitched in 30 games and he finished the season with a 3.91 ERA, 9 wins to 12 losses, and 152 strikeouts to 65 walks in 179.2 innings.

Sabathia had a strong 2017 season, finishing with 14 wins and 5 losses and a 3.69 ERA in 148.2 innings in 27 games. In the postseason, he pitched 19.0 innings in 4 games and he gave up 16 hits and 7 runs. He had one win and one loss and he struck out 19 batters and walked 10.

In 2018, Sabathia signed again with the Yankees, this time on a one-year contract. He finished the season with 9 wins and 7 losses, 140 strikeouts to 51 walks, and a 3.65 ERA in 153.0 innings in 29 games. He didn't fare well in his only postseason game, pitching just 3.0 innings. It was the game that cost the Yankees the AL division series. Sabathia gave up 5 hits and 3 runs, and he struck out 1 batter and walked 2.

Sabathia spent time on the DL in 2019, first for recovery from cardiac surgery and later in the season for right knee inflammation. He played in 23 games with the Yankees and he had 5 wins and 8 losses and a 4.95 ERA in 107.1 innings. He struck out 107 batters and walked 39. In the postseason, he pitched just 1.0 innings in 2 games and he gave up no hits.

Sabathia retired on October 21, 2019. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025 with 86.8% of the vote on the first ballot.

Awards and MLB Records

• AL Cy Young award
• ALCS MVP award
• Led AL in wins - 2 times
• Led AL in innings pitched - 2 times

Career Statistics

Statistics for Sabathia in 19 seasons (2001-2019) in the major leagues include:

• 12 seasons with 30 or more games played, with a high of 35 in 2008
• 8 seasons with 200 or more innings pitched, with a high of 253 in 2008
• 2 seasons with an ERA of 3.00 or less, with a low of 2.70 in 2008
• 4 seasons with over 18 wins, with a high of 21 in 2010
• 3 seasons with over 200 strikeouts, with a high of 251 in 2008

Career pitching statistics for Sabathia include:

• 561 games played
• 3,577.1 innings pitched
• 251-161 win-loss record
• 3,093 strikeouts to 1,099 walks
• 3.74 ERA

Post Playing Career

In April, 2022, Sabathia was hired to be a special assistant to MLB's commissioner.