Max Scherzer arrived at the University of Missouri with such a violent delivery that his cap flew off nearly every pitch. His coaches shut him down for 50 days to rebuild his mechanics, and Arizona scouting director Mike Rizzo, noting his angry, attacking mentality, coined the nickname Mad Max in the draft room before taking him 11th overall in 2006.

Scherzer refined his release point in the minors, mastered pitch tunneling, and channeled the grief of losing his brother Alex into a relentless competitive drive. He compartmentalized personal tragedy and physical pain to build one of the most decorated careers in the sport’s history.

• Won three Cy Young Awards and threw two no-hitters in 2015, striking out 17 in one
• Tied the record with 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game in 2016
• Pitched Game 7 through neck spasms to win the 2019 World Series with Washington
• Recorded an immaculate inning and his 3,000th strikeout with the Dodgers
• Reached 3,500 career strikeouts in June 2026, passing Walter Johnson for 10th all-time