Max Scherzer Rookie Sensation - Diamondbacks Pitcher
May 2, 2008 by Stephen Kersey
Filed under Games Worth Watching, Stats and Analysis
Right down this name: Max Scherzer. Scherzer is a starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks who hasn’t even made his first start, yet he has the baseball world buzzing. He has an electric fastball, a deadly changeup and two different colored eyes.
The 23-year-old was drafted with the 11th overall pick by the Diamondbacks in the 2006 draft. Originally, he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 43rd round of the 2003 draft, however he instead opted to go to the University of Missouri.
This season, Scherzer started at Triple-A with the Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League. While he didn’t have a decision, he was dominant in his four starts. Over 23 innings, the right-hander gave up 12 hits, three walks and three earned runs while striking out 38 batters.
Arizona called him up and Scherzer made his major league debut on April 29th. Making a relief appearance, Scherzer pitched 4.1 perfect innings while striking out seven batters. By retiring all the batters he faced, he set a major league record for most consecutive batters retired in a debut appearance. That’s all the Diamondbacks needed to see to put the young hurler into the starting rotation.
Scherzer will make his first start Monday, May 5th against the Philadelphia Phillies. Get a bucket of popcorn and watch a dynamic pitching prospect introduce himself to the baseball world.
Photo: Newscom
My late brother, Erwin Awe of Detroit, MI, also had one blue and one brown eye. He loved baseball and pitched for the church soft ball league. Everyone called him Lefty.
Lefty–that was my dad–just found his catchers glove and mask up in the garage up north. Lots of memories go along with the baseball equipment. That one blue eye created 2 blue eyed kids and 4 or 5 blue eyed grandkids and not sure about the great grandkids.