Max Scherzer
From BR Bullpen
Maxwell M. Scherzer
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.
- School University of Missouri
- High School Parkway Central High School
- Debut April 29, 2008
- Born July 27, 1984 in St. Louis, MO USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Pitcher Max Scherzer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round of the 2003 amateur draft, but opted for college. He was then selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2006 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Joe Robinson and made his pro debut in 2007 with the Visalia Oaks, where he went 2-0 with an 0.53 ERA before being promoted to the Mobile BayBears. With Mobile, he was 4-4 with a 3.91 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 14 starts. He began 2008 with the Tucson Sidewinders and notched a 1.17 ERA in 4 starts and struck out 38 batters in 23 innings. He was then called up by the Diamondbacks in late April and made his debut on April 29th against the Houston Astros, coming out of the bullpen to pitch 4 1/3 innings of perfect ball and strike out 7. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Scherzer's debut was the longest debut outing in "modern major-league history" by a pitcher who retired every batter he faced (13 batters). In the previous 50 years, Jimmy Key had the most with 10 batters. He was 0-4 but with a good 3.05 ERA in 16 games for the Diamondbacks as a rookie. In 2009, he spent the entire season in the starting rotation with correct results, going 9-11, 4.12 in 30 starts, and striking 174 batters in 170 1/3 innings.
Before the 2010 season, Max was sent to the Detroit Tigers in a three-team trade that also involved the New York Yankees and such current and future stars as Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson and Austin Jackson. He made 31 starts for the Tigers that season, improving to 12-11, 3.50, with 184 strikeouts. He had a better record with a worse ERA in 2011, finishing at 15-9 in spite of seeing his ERA increase to 4.43 in 33 starts. He was second on the team in wins behind ace Justin Verlander, although late-season acquisition Doug Fister, who pitched brilliantly after joining the team, was the number 2 starter when the postseason began after the Tigers claimed the first AL Central title in team history. He won Game 2 of the ALDS by shutting out the Yankees on two hits over 6 innings, his start having been moved forward when Game 1 was suspended by rain after only one inning, forcing both teams to use their number 2 starters when the game was resumed the next day. He pitched in relief in the deciding Game 5, relieving Fister at the start of the 6th inning with a 3-1 lead, and recording a scoreless inning, before giving up a run on a pair of hits on the 7th and turning the ball over to Joaquin Benoit. He started a pair of games in the ALCS against the Texas Rangers, but the Tigers lost both times, with Scherzer being charged with the loss in Game 6 after giving up 6 runs in 2 1/3 innings.
On May 20, 2012, Max set a personal record by striking out 15 members of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 innings in a 4 - 3 win. He was one shy of the Tigers team record, set by Mickey Lolich in 1969.
Max Scherzer has a very distinctive follow-through when pitching; he will end his pitching motion with his head pointing directly at the ground, and his right foot high in the air. It is a very awkward position for fielding any grounders or line drives hit back at him, but it seems to give him additional velocity on his pitches.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (2011)
