American · Chesterfield, USA · Born 27 July 1984Max Scherzer is a dominant, fiery right-handed starter who has pitched for seven teams and won three Cy Young Awards.
Maxwell Martin Scherzer was born on July 27, 1984, in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in the nearby suburb of Chesterfield by parents Brad and Jan Scherzer. He starred at Parkway Central High School before the St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in the 43rd round in 2003 — a token late-round pick he passed on, choosing instead to pitch collegiately at the University of Missouri. His freshman season was rocky enough that coaches pulled him from the rotation to rework his mechanics, but by his sophomore year he had transformed into the Big 12's best pitcher, earning conference Pitcher of the Year honors and drawing serious professional interest. Scherzer is also known for a distinctive physical trait: heterochromia, giving him one brown eye and one blue eye. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Scherzer 11th overall in the 2006 draft, and he debuted in the majors in 2008 before being traded to the Detroit Tigers, where his career took off. He won his first American League Cy Young Award in 2013, going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA, and became known throughout baseball for his fierce, almost obsessive competitiveness on the mound — a mentality that earned him the nickname "Mad Max." After signing with the Washington Nationals in 2015, Scherzer threw two no-hitters in a single season and later struck out 20 batters in a nine-inning game, tying the major league record. He helped Washington win its first World Series championship in 2019, adding a second Cy Young Award along the way, and later won a third Cy Young with the Mets in 2021 before winning a second World Series title with the Texas Rangers in 2023. Over more than 18 seasons with seven different organizations, Scherzer has won three Cy Young Awards, made eight All-Star teams, and struck out well over 3,000 batters, cementing his place among the most dominant and durable pitchers of his generation.
Three-time Cy Young winner, 'Mad Max'
How They Played
Power pitcher with high-velocity fastball and devastating slider
Lasting Impact
One of the most dominant pitchers of the 2010s with exceptional strikeout ability
Career Honours
- 3x Cy Young Award
- 2x World Series champion
- multiple All-Star selections
- no-hitters (2015x2)
| Team | Period | Games | Jersey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 2015–2021 | 220 | #31 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 2008–2009 | 524 | #31 |
| New York Mets | 2022–2023 | 43 | — |
| Detroit Tigers | 2010–2014 | 161 | — |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 2021–2021 | 11 | — |
American Athletes