A pair of left-handed starting pitchers were named the MLB Comeback Players of the Year on Thursday -- one is a veteran who authored a renaissance season to make himself a Cy Young Award favorite, and the other is a young flamethrower who overpowered opponents in his first year as a full-time starter.

Chris Sale of the Braves earned the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award, and Garrett Crochet of the White Sox won the honor in the American League.

Sale, coming off four injury-plagued seasons, finished tied for the MLB lead in wins (18) and led the Majors in ERA (2.38) and FIP (2.09) in his age-35 campaign. He also led the NL with 225 strikeouts. Not only that, but he proved to be agile off the mound, garnering his first career Gold Glove Award.

Sale’s outstanding performance gives him an excellent chance at winning an elusive Cy Young Award -- he has finished among the top six in Cy Young voting seven times in his career so far.

Crochet, meanwhile, was converted into a full-time starter after posting a 2.71 ERA over three seasons as a reliever for the White Sox. He has been a revelation in his new role, striking out 35.1% of opposing batters while pitching to a 3.58 ERA over 146 innings. The performance earned him his first career All-Star selection.

In the wake of his tremendous 2024 season, Crochet has been the subject of trade rumors, and he is considered one of the players who will most likely be dealt this offseason.

The Comeback Player of the Year Award has been given annually by MLB since 2005 to one player in each league "who has re-emerged on the field during the season." The winners are determined following a vote by the 30 club beat reporters from MLB.com.

Last year's honorees were former White Sox reliever Liam Hendriks and Cubs outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger. The past two AL winners -- Hendriks and Crochet -- were the first two winners of the award in White Sox history. Sale is the first Braves player to win the honor.