What Happened to Maxwell Martin Scherzer?

Max Scherzer's career has been marked by exceptional dominance, earning him a reputation as one of the most formidable pitchers of his generation. After winning his third Cy Young Award in 2017 and a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019, Scherzer continued to be a top-tier pitcher. In 2021, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he finished third in National League Cy Young voting and reached the 3,000-strikeout milestone.

Midway through the 2023 season, Scherzer was traded to the Texas Rangers, playing a crucial role in their run to the World Series championship, his second career title. However, the physical toll of his long career began to manifest more prominently. In December 2023, he underwent surgery for a herniated disc in his lower back, causing him to miss the start of the 2024 season. He made a delayed debut for the Rangers in June 2024, pitching in nine games with a 2-4 record before electing free agency at the end of the season.

In January 2025, Scherzer signed a one-year, $15.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. His 2025 season saw him make 17 regular-season appearances with a 5-5 record and a 5.19 ERA, a career-worst regular season mark, partly due to a thumb issue that sidelined him for two months. Despite this, he performed well in the postseason, helping the Blue Jays reach the World Series, where they ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following the 2025 season, despite speculation about retirement, Scherzer expressed his desire to continue playing.

Scherzer re-signed with the Blue Jays for the 2026 season on a one-year, $3 million base salary deal with up to $10 million in innings-based incentives. The 2026 season has been particularly challenging due to multiple injuries, including right forearm tendinitis, left ankle inflammation, and back spasms, leading to several stints on the injured list. His performance has been suboptimal, with a 10.23 ERA in his first six starts. However, he has shown flashes of his old form, and as of August 13, 2026, he remains an active pitcher for the Blue Jays.

Remarkably, even amidst injury struggles, Scherzer has continued to etch his name in baseball history in 2026. On June 10, he recorded his 3,500th career strikeout, becoming the 11th pitcher in MLB history to reach that mark. On August 8, 2026, he surpassed Hall of Famer Walter Johnson to move into 10th place on the all-time strikeout list with 3,516 strikeouts. Most recently, on August 13, 2026, Scherzer reached another significant milestone, completing 3,000 career innings pitched. His continued presence in MLB at age 42, despite the physical challenges, underscores his enduring passion and competitive spirit.