Max Scherzer

Maxwell Scherzer is a professional Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the 11th overall pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2006 MLB Draft. Scherzer was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd Round of the 2003 MLB Draft out of Parkway Central High School in Missouri. In the off-season he resides in Chesterfield, Missouri.

As a sophomore at the University of Missouri, he was named Big-12 Conference Pitcher of the Year. He was also selected as a Second-Team All-American by Baseball America and saw action with Team USA during the summer of 2005. He both pitches and bats from the right side. Scherzer made his Major League debut on April 29, 2008.

Max was acquired by the Detroit Tigers in a three team trade with the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Detroiters received Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from the Diamondbacks, and Phil Coke and Austin Jackson from the Yankees. The Yankees picked up Tiger Curtis Granderson, and the Diamondbacks received Ian Kennedy from the Yankees and Edwin Jackson from the Tigers.

During the 2009 off-season, Max participated in the Tigers Winter caravanhttp://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/components/team/player/bio_iframe.html?is_mug_shot=true&roster_cid=det&cid=det&player_id=453286.

Scherzer broke camp with the Tigers and headed north with the big league team. After being acquired in the off-season, manager Jim Leyland and the rest of the Tiger organization are expecting him to fill one of the top three spots in the starting rotation.

Through his first 3 starts, Max has won 1 and lost 1, while posting a sparkling 2.12 Earned Run Average. While in the National League he averaged better than a strikeout per inning (240 in 226), but in the American League he is finding the early going a little tougher (10 in 17)http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=453286. Expect his strikeout to innings pitched ration to improve as the season progresses.

June 03, 2010 - After a tough 4 game stretch in May, Max was sent to Triple A Toledo to work on his mechanics. While there he totally dominated the opposition. He was recalled to face the Oakland Athletics and in that start he struck out 14 batters in just 5 2/3 innings pitched; a new record for Major League Baseball.

Max had a good season with the Diamondbacks, even though he sported a losing (9 - 11) record. A good measure of a pitcher is his hits to innings pitched. Scherzer gave up less than 1 hit per inning pitched and struck out more than a batter an inning, which is outstanding. His ERA was a respectable 4.12, but definitely is an area needing improvement if he wishes to join the elite pitchers in the league.

He finished in the top 25 in the league in two pitching categories; Batting Average Against (.253) and strikeouts (174)http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=453286.

The Diamondbacks were less than stellar in the field in their support of the big right-hander, with 16 of the 94 runs he allowed being unearned. Shcherzer was counted on to be one of their top 3 starters throughout the season and did not let the Diamondbacks down.

2008 Season - Max made his Major League debut on April 29, 2008 and was recognized by the Arizona chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America as the D-backs' Rookie of the Year. In his debut against Houston, he struck out 7 batters in 4 1/3 innings without allowing a hit. Though he sported a 0 win - 4 loss season, he compiled an ERA of 3.05 for the season and struck out 66 hitters in 56 innings. He allowed only 48 hits, less than one per inning which is a good measure of a strong pitcher.

2007 Season - Scherzer made his professional debut with Visalia Oaks in single A ball for the Diamondbacks. He was promoted to Mobile, Alabama Double (AA) and them playerd for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League

2006 Season - He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the Major League amateur draft as the 11th overall pick.