Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer
Detroit Tigers – No. 37
Starting pitcher
Born: (1984-07-27) July 27, 1984 St. Louis, Missouri
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 29, 2008 for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Career statistics (through May 21, 2013)
Win–loss record	58–42
Earned run average	3.86
Strikeouts	904
Teams
Arizona Diamondbacks (2008–2009) Detroit Tigers (2010–present)

Maxwell M. "Max" Scherzer (born July 27, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona.

Early life

After playing for Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, Scherzer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round (1,291st overall) in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft but did not sign and instead attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He was then drafted again in 2006 by the Arizona Diamondbacks, this time in the 1st round as the 11th overall pick. On January 9, 2012 it was announced that Scherzer would be one of six new inductees to the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. While at Mizzou he was Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in 2005. He was Mizzou's first-ever 1st round MLB pick.

Professional career

Minor leagues

He began playing in the Diamondbacks organization in 2007 with the Single-A Visalia Oaks. He was promoted to Double-A Mobile BayBears after three impressive starts for the Oaks. In 2007, Scherzer also played for the Fort Worth Cats, an independent baseball team. During the 2008 offseason, he was named the fourth-best prospect in the Diamondback's organization. After a good start to the 2008 season in Tucson he was called up to the Diamondbacks on April 27, 2008.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On April 29, 2008, Scherzer made his MLB debut against the Houston Astros when he came on in relief and threw 4⅓ perfect innings while striking out seven. While doing so he also set the record for the number of consecutive batters retired (13) for a pitcher making his MLB debut as a reliever. The previous record was 12 set in 1962 by the Dodgers' Pete Richert. The seven strikeouts were one short of the major-league record for most in a debut relief appearance. The Pirates' Barry Jones had eight on April 20, 1986. On April 30, 2008, the Diamondbacks announced he would be placed into the starting rotation, due to his impressive start. In his first appearance as a starter for the D-Backs, Scherzer allowed five runs (two earned) in four innings, while striking out five, taking the first loss of his major league career. He pitched against the Cardinals, his favorite team growing up,^{[citation needed]} on September 24 and lost for the fourth time in his career in a winless season, going five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (two earned) while walking two and striking out four. Scherzer recorded his first victory in a 12–0 win over the Atlanta Braves on May 16, 2009. On May 26, Scherzer recorded his second win of his career.

Scherzer participated in the 2008 Arizona Fall League season as member of the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

Scherzer started as the fifth starter in the D-Backs rotation for 2009.

After the 2009 season, Scherzer worked out in Fort Collins, CO with the Colorado State University baseball team.

Detroit Tigers

Scherzer warms up before a game.

On December 9, 2009, Scherzer was traded along with Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers as part of a three team trade that brought Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks and Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees.

Detroit optioned Scherzer to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on May 16, 2010, replacing him with Armando Galarraga. Shortly thereafter he returned successfully to the major leagues, going 6–4 in twelve starts with an ERA of 2.62 and 85 strikeouts in 75.2 innings.

On May 30 against the Oakland Athletics, Scherzer accumulated 14 strikeouts in only 5⅔ innings pitched. This was the fourth time in his career that he has had 10 or more strikeouts in a single game. He allowed two hits, four walks, and hit a batter on his last pitch before being replaced. That mark was tied for the most strikeouts in Comerica Park history with Jeremy Bonderman and tied for second in franchise history behind Mickey Lolich, who had 16 strikeouts in one game. On July 26, Scherzer and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza took a no-hit duel into the sixth inning. Scherzer lost the no-hit bid after giving up a grand slam to Matt Joyce. Garza went on to throw the no hitter.

On September 1 against the Minnesota Twins Scherzer pitched into the 9th for the first time in his career, giving up one run on four hits and one walk while striking out nine on 107 pitches, though the Tigers lost the game in the 10th inning.

Scherzer finished the 2010 season with a 12–11 record, 3.50 ERA and 184 strikeouts. Despite spending some time in the minor leagues, his strikeout total was still good for 10th in the American League.

In the 2011 season, Scherzer was the third starter in the rotation, and won six straight starts early in the year, being the first Tiger since Jeremy Bonderman in 2006 to accomplish this feat. He was 15–9 this season, and was 3rd in the AL in home runs allowed (29), 4th in wild pitches, 5th in hit by pitch (10), 9th in win-loss percentage (.625), and 10th in wins.

On May 20, 2012, Scherzer struck out 15 Pittsburgh Pirates in seven innings, falling one strikeout short of tying the franchise record set by Mickey Lolich. His career-high 231 total strikeouts during the 2012 regular season placed second in the American League, behind teammate Justin Verlander's 239. His strikeout rate of 11.1 per 9 innings led the American League. He also finished the regular season with career highs in wins (16) and win percentage (16–7, .696).

Pitching style

Scherzer throws four pitches: a four-seam fastball in the mid to high 90s which has been seen as high as 100, a slider, a changeup in the mid 80s, and a curveball 60-85. The is his primary off-speed pitch to right-handed hitters, and the changeup is primarily used against left-handed hitters. Scherzer throws the curveball every once in a while, about 4 times a game.

Personal life

Scherzer has been in a relationship with girlfriend Erica May for eight years. They met in his hometown in Missouri when she was also a pitcher in softball. Max's younger and only brother, Alex, committed suicide early in the summer of 2012. Alex had a passion of analyzing advanced baseball statistics or sabermetrics. Max learned the value of sabermetrics from his brother, and he implements this as a tool to improve his game. Since Alex's death, Max has become one of the most effective pitchers in baseball and continues to dedicate every start to his late brother.

Heterochromia Iridum

Scherzer has heterochromia iridum of the eye, which means that one iris is a different color from the other; his right eye is blue and his left eye is brown. On June 12, 2011, the Detroit Tigers distributed a bobblehead doll depicting Scherzer, with the condition correctly portrayed.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)