"Chris Sale is the last of a dying breed" - All-Star WS champ Eric Hosmer sees only Paul Skenes with Braves ace's mindset among young pitchers

Braves pitcher Chris Sale seems to be defying every single commonly-held belief about ageing pitchers. At 35 years old, the lanky left-hander is putting up numbers that harken back to his days as a Cy Young-caliber pitcher a decade ago.

In a recent appearance on the Diggin' Deep podcast, former World Series MVP Eric Hosmer commended Sale's performance. According to Hosmer, Sale's longevity and commitment to his teammates make him the "last of a dying breed:"

"Chris Sale is the last of a dying breed. When you look at starting pitchers, and you talk about just being a dog, going out there, taking the ball, and understanding the assignment each start."

Hosmer went on to commend Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes, who he claimed was unique among young pitchers in demonstrating the mindset that made Sale so successful.

This year, Sale's 153 innings on the bump represent his most innings pitched since the 2017 season. Moreover, despite his advanced age, Chris Sale's .833 winning percentage and 2.58 ERA leads all qualified MLB starters on both counts. It's safe to say that the 6-foot-6 southpaw is truly in the elite eschelon of current MLB pitchers.

"Chris Sale has a 2.20 ERA and 115 strikeouts in last 14 starts. Will he finally lock up his 1st career Cy Young?" - ESPN Bet

Although he was born 13 years after Sale, Paul Skenes is already showing himself to have elite capabilities. Since making his MLB debut in May, the 22-year-old phenomenon is 8-2 with a 2.23 ERA, and touts 136 strikeouts in 109 innings.

Chris Sale pursues his first career Cy Young honor

Although Chris Sale has finished in the top five in Cy Young voting six times in his career, he has never obtained the hallowed honor. After the Florida-native's masterful 109-pitch against the Minnesota Twins last Wednesday, Braves skipper Brian Snitker told SI:

“He pitched his rear off, It’s why he’s the frontrunner for the Cy Young because that’s not the first time he’s done that...he’s unbelievable when he gets his back to the wall like that.”

The competition for the NL Cy Young Award could not be fiercer. However, Sale is an individual who has strode this path before, and knows what it means to sacrifice. Do not be surprised if 2024 is the year that Chris Sale finally gets his Cy Young honor.