Although Joey Cantillo made nine starts a season ago, he maintained his rookie status in 2025 and posted some impressive numbers.
Cantillo became just the third rookie in franchise history (minimum 10 starts) to post a K-per-9 rate above 10.
Most strikeouts by nine innings by Cleveland rookies (min. 10 starts)
- 2013 Danny Salazar, 11.3
- 2021 Triston McKenzie, 10.2
- 2025 Cantillo, 10.2
- 1955 Herb Score, 9.7
- 2018 Shane Bieber, 9.3
Of course Score’s number is truly the most impressive on the list given the era in which he pitched.
Of the 18 Cleveland rookies with at least 7.5 K per 9, Score and CC Sabathia (8.5 in 2001) and Sonny Siebert (8.3 in 1964) are the only ones pre-2012.
